EU’s rep scraps plan for ministerial meeting amid Hungary’s informal summit

EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell has decided against convening an unscheduled meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on the same day as an informal meeting scheduled in Hungary.

This decision stemmed from dissatisfaction over Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's handling of Hungary's EU Council presidency, particularly concerning visits to Moscow and Beijing during the early days of the presidency, Caliber.Az reports citing the foreign sources.

Initially, Borrell intended to hold the Brussels meeting to pressure Orban into rescheduling the informal gathering in Budapest. However, participants were informed that the unscheduled meeting would not proceed in August, indicating a setback for Borrell's plan.

The dissatisfaction with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban arose primarily due to his visit to Moscow, which occurred during Hungary's EU Council presidency. Orban's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow drew criticism from several European Union member states and EU officials. The visit was seen as problematic because it occurred at a time when the EU has maintained a policy of sanctions and diplomatic pressure on Russia, particularly in response to Russia's actions in Ukraine and other geopolitical concerns.