Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán addressed the European Parliament this week, outlining his country’s priorities for its presidency of the EU Council. Met with overwhelming criticism, he argued that political shifts in EU member states indicate that the bloc’s climate might sooner or later shift in his favour.
European People’s Party leader Manred Weber has criticised a new Hungarian visa liberalisation measure for workers from Russia and Belarus. The German conservative is worried that the move endangers EU security and provides a loophole for espionage.
The Hungarian presidency of the Council of the European Union has been marred by controversy, which escalated after Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s unexpected visits to Russia and China. In response, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a boycott and the EU’s chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, blocked a planned informal meeting of foreign and defence ministers in Budapest.
On Monday, Hungary takes over the rotating EU Council presidency from Belgium. Watched closely by many, the country aims to “Make Europe Great Again” and plans to focus on EU enlargement, defence and competitiveness. Ukraine might face six tougher months in the EU realm.
France is proposing that Europe should issue common debt again. In other news, Slovenia is reluctant on the question of whether the EU should deprive Hungary of its voting rights under Article 7 of the EU Treaty. Romanian MEP Daniel Buda calls for more subsidies to support farmers across Europe.