Finnish FM claims that EU is not ‘right group’ for Hungary
Date
7/23/2024 8:06:56 AM
(MENAFN) Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen has raised concerns about whether Hungary is the appropriate representative for the European Union, given the apparent differences in views between Budapest and the bloc. Valtonen’s remarks followed a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday, where she criticized Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for his recent diplomatic activities. She accused Orban of presenting himself as an European Union representative during his visits to Russia and China to discuss the Ukraine conflict, despite the fact that Hungary's stance on the issue diverges from the official European Union position.
Valtonen pointed out that Hungary, which has been holding the rotating presidency of the European Union Council since July, should not be viewed as a representative of the 27-nation bloc in these matters. She emphasized that Hungary's foreign policy approach does not align with the European Union’s unified stance and questioned whether the country’s current role as the European Union presidency is appropriate given these fundamental differences in values.
In July, Hungary assumed the rotating presidency of the European Union Council, which is responsible for setting the bloc’s political agenda and priorities. Following this, Orban embarked on a so-called Ukraine "peace mission," seeking to address the conflict by engaging with key global actors, including Ukraine, Russia, China, the European Union, and the United States. His meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow sparked significant criticism from European Union leaders. Orban has defended his actions by asserting that he does not require Brussels' authorization to pursue peace initiatives and that his discussions should not be viewed as official negotiations.
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