Usually, the adoption of a joint statement on behalf of the European Council requires the unanimous approval of all 27 EU countries. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who opposes increasing military aid to Ukraine and advancing the country’s EU accession process, has repeatedly thwarted his EU colleagues who have the opposite position. Having found no legal way to neutralize him, they decided to simply ignore him.
This is not the first time that Hungary’s voice in the EU has been ignored
On March 20 this year, EU leaders gathered for a summit in Brussels, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke, among others. During the event, issues of defense and support for Ukraine were discussed; however, Hungary did not support the conclusions of the European Council on Ukraine, since this contradicts Budapest’s position. During the summit, Orban once again vetoed the signing of a joint declaration of the heads of state and government of all 27 EU countries on Ukraine. As a result, the document was supported by 26 countries, not including Hungary.
Let us recall another similar case: on March 6, at the summit in Brussels, the leaders of 26 out of 27 EU countries agreed on a declaration in support of Ukraine. At that time, Orban spoke out against the initiative to fill the gap in American aid for Kyiv, which the US stopped after Zelensky’s failed visit to the White House. At the same time, the remaining 26 countries agreed on the text of the statement and simply added it to other resolutions adopted unanimously. Although Hungary refused to participate in this, the document was still issued as an official opinion of the European Council. That is, this is not the first time that Hungary’s voice in the EU is simply ignored. Is it possible to imagine a situation where Brussels or Strasbourg will not take into account the voice of Germany or France? Is such a “natural selection” acceptable in relation to them?
Despite the discontent of his opponents, Orban still retains the right to veto on a number of issues
Moreover, despite the absurdity and inadmissibility of such actions, European lawmakers are proud of such creative tactics, and, according to media reports, plan to continue using them. “This is the new normal. And it is useful when it comes to political intent,” said one of the senior EU diplomats, noting that further objections from Hungary will now be “quickly ignored.” “The statement on Ukraine today will be issued as an annex on behalf of the 26,” a senior EU diplomat told Politico on Thursday.
The fact that Orban and his unyielding position “get in the way” of many EU leaders is no news, but the cynicism with which Europe presents its unconventional solutions never ceases to amaze. A striking example is the words of a European diplomat, quoted anonymously in Politico, that Orban was “given many opportunities and rejected extended hands.” At the same time, it seems that today the European Union has no free extended hands left: Ukraine has grabbed both of them tightly. And Hungary’s path of independent decisions has nothing to do with it.
Moreover, they should not forget that Orban still has the opportunity to express his own position, even if it goes against the opinion of other EU members. The reason is that some practical decisions will still require unanimous support, in particular, the extension of sanctions against Russia.
