news

한어Русский языкEnglishFrançaisIndonesianSanskrit日本語DeutschPortuguêsΕλληνικάespañolItalianoSuomalainenLatina

[Text/Observer Network Yan Shanshan] Hungary, which has made the European Union "uneasy" within half a month on its own, has been chased and given a "yellow card" by EU officials again.

According to reports from Reuters and Politico EU, on July 16 local time, European Council President Charles Michel wrote to Hungarian Prime Minister Orban, saying that the rotating presidency of the EU is not qualified to represent the EU internationally, and the European Council has not authorized it to represent the EU in international affairs.

Michel's statement was in response to a letter Orban had sent to all EU leaders earlier. In the letter, Orban mentioned that US President Biden could not change the US's "pro-war" policy. If US Republican presidential candidate Trump wins the election in November, the latter will immediately act as a mediator in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which will be unfavorable for Europe, which has been following the Biden administration's "pro-war" policy.

Orban suggested that the EU develop a sovereign and independent strategic approach and "reopen direct diplomatic communication channels with Russia", while maintaining high-level contacts with the Ukrainian authorities and holding talks with China on "the format of the next peace conference".

Michel denied that the EU was pursuing a "pro-war" policy on the Ukraine issue and said that the EU firmly supports Ukraine and its people."Any discussion on the Ukrainian issue cannot be without Ukraine's participation."

Earlier this month, Orban visited Ukraine, Russia, China, and the United States to meet with Trump at Mar-a-Lago. On July 12, he wrote to other EU leaders based on his findings from the trip and put forward some suggestions.

Speaking of the meeting with Trump, Orban said that if Trump wins the US election in November, "it is safe to say that he will be ready to play the role of 'peace mediator' shortly after his (Trump) victory and will not wait until the inauguration. He has detailed and sufficient plans for this."

Orban did not mention details of Trump's plan in his letter, and he also said that US President Biden "cannot change the current 'pro-war' policy of the United States."

He pointed out that if Trump wins the US election in November, Europe's burden of providing financial support to Ukraine will increase, which is "not good" for Europe. Reuters mentioned that Orban has long been critical of Europe's military aid to Ukraine.

"Our European strategy, in the name of 'transatlantic solidarity', has followed the 'pro-war' policy of the United States. So far, we do not have a sovereign and independent European strategy or political action plan," Orban wrote in the letter.

He suggested that the EU "reopen direct diplomatic communication channels with Russia" while maintaining high-level contacts with the Ukrainian authorities and holding talks with China on "the format of the next peace conference."

In response, European Council President Michel replied in a letter to Orban on July 16 that Hungary cannot represent the EU on the international stage and the European Council has not authorized it to represent the EU in international affairs.

Michel said the EU "has always sought to build broad international support for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace" and "in this regard, the EU spares no effort to engage with all partners, including China."

But he stressed: "Any discussion on the Ukrainian issue cannot be without Ukraine's participation."

Michel said the EU is firmly committed to supporting Ukraine and its people, and rejected Orban's claim that the EU is pursuing a "pro-war" policy on Ukraine. "Quite the opposite. Russia is the aggressor and Ukraine is the victim of its legitimate right to self-defense."

Politico EU mentioned that Michel's response came at a time when differences arose within the EU over Hungary's active participation in international affairs after assuming the rotating presidency of the EU.

On the same day (July 16), many EU member states refused to send their energy ministers to attend the energy conference hosted by Hungary in Budapest that day. At least four countries said that this move was aimed at protesting. In addition, 63 members of the European Parliament demanded that Hungary be deprived of its voting rights in the EU.

On the evening of July 15th local time, a spokesperson for the European Commission announced that in view of developments since Hungary assumed the rotating presidency of the EU Council, European Commission President von der Leyen decided not to send senior European Commission officials to attend the Council meeting chaired by Hungary, and only to send senior civil servant representatives to attend the informal meeting of the Council.

For the European CommissionIn response, Hungarian Minister of EU Affairs János Boka said that the activities organized by the EU Council presidency are aimed at addressing common challenges facing the EU, and the European Commission cannot pick and choose the institutions and member states it wants to cooperate with, and questioned: "Are all the decisions of the European Commission now based on political considerations?"

This article is an exclusive article of Observer.com and may not be reproduced without authorization.