The decision to converge Informal meeting of EU Foreign and Defence Ministers at the end of August in Brussels, the EU High Representative announced, Jose Borel instead of Budapest.
The Informal Meeting of EU Foreign and Defence Ministers (Gymnich format) was scheduled to take place at the end of August in Budapest, in the capital of Hungary, which holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU this semester.
The cause
However, Borrell said today during the press conference, shortly after the conclusion of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, that his decision was due to Hungary’s recent position regarding the war in Ukraine.
J. Borrell said that this was a “symbolic” consequence for Hungary, following Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s trip to Moscow without the support of EU countries. Before making his decision, Borrell heard the positions of his EU foreign ministers in a closed meeting, during which the possible consequences of the Hungarian Prime Minister’s “peace mission” were discussed.
“I have decided to convene the informal meeting of EU Foreign and Defence Ministers in Brussels after the summer break. At today’s Foreign Affairs Council, EU Member States overwhelmingly criticised Hungary’s lack of honest and faithful cooperation,” the head of European diplomacy underlined in a publication in “X”.
I have decided to convene informal meetings of EU Foreign and Defence Ministers in Brussels after the summer break.
Today #FACEU Member States overwhelmingly criticised Hungary’s lack of sincere and loyal cooperation.
– Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) July 22, 2024