By: C. R.
The Hungarian presidency of the Council of the EU must put Europe first, said Slovenian Deputy Prime Minister Luka Mesec today in Brussels regarding Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s so-called peace mission, during which he also visited Moscow. The government will still discuss the possible boycott of informal ministerial meetings in Budapest.
“I would like to express dissatisfaction with the position of the prime minister of the presiding country, Mr. Orban. Europe deserves the first place,” said Minister Mesec to STA before the meeting of EU member states’ ministers for social affairs and employment.
When asked whether Slovenian ministers will also boycott the informal meetings organised in Budapest under the Hungarian presidency of the Council of the EU, he replied that they will first discuss this within the government and with other member states.
“Because any action must be collective. However, I hope that our protest will be heard in Budapest and that Europe will be put first,” Mesec emphasised.
Orban’s “peace mission”, during which he met with the presidents of Ukraine, Russia, and China, as well as with the U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, has sparked much criticism among other EU member states. They were particularly critical of the meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Several members announced last week that they would attend the informal meetings in Budapest only at the level of officials.
On Monday, the European Commission also announced that only its senior officials, not commissioners, would participate in these meetings. The Commission will also not visit Hungary, as is customary at the beginning of each member state’s presidency.
In response to Brussels’ decision, Hungarian Minister for European Affairs Janos Boka stated that the Hungarian presidency remains committed to sincere cooperation with member states and EU institutions.