The presidency of the European Union’s Council is a rotating position that changes every six months among the EU’s 27 member states.
The country that holds the presidency is responsible for overseeing the council’s activities and acting as a representative on behalf of all member states in negotiations with other EU institutions.
Hungary assumed the chairmanship of the council as of July 1. At the end of the year, it will be succeeded by Poland on January 1.
Hungary’s presidency got off to a tumultuous start, with its campaign launch bearing a striking similarity to the slogan famously used by outgoing US President Donald Trump: “Make Europe Great Again” – a phrase that mirrored his “Make America Great Again” trademark.
However, the situation didn’t stop there. At the beginning of July, conciding with Hungary’s presidency, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán initiated a visit to Moscow in the first week, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, describing it as a “peace mission’, although it was met with significant criticism.
Since his invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Putin has faced significant isolation from Europe. Notably, Hungarian Prime Minister Víktor Orbán was the first European Union leader to meet with Putin in person. Their initial meeting took place in Moscow in early July 2022, with a second meeting occurring two years later, this time with Hungary holding the EU presidency.
The visits sparked widespread criticism, as the European Parliament passed a resolution condemning the meeting with strong language. The EU Parliament described the visit as a “blatant breach of the EU’s treaties and common foreign policy”, and sought consequences for the Hungarian leader.
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán faced criticism for meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping again, while his country was holding the presidency of a regional bloc.
Several European Union member states grew increasingly distant from Hungary, actively boycotting EU meetings convened by Hungary’s capital, Budapest, including key activities of the European Commission. The leaders of these countries perceived Viktor Orbán’s policies and opinions as divergent from the rest of the EU bloc, both in terms of representing broader EU interests and advancing collective objectives.
Hungary’s Prime Minister, Orbán, made several statements against the European Union in public appearances and speeches, worsening his already negative public perception. In interviews, he made several critical comments about the EU and its member countries, sparking controversy.
In an interview, he sharply criticized the European Union for its support of Ukraine, pointing out that Kyiv’s military victory seems unlikely, and that achieving peace could only be obtained through negotiations and concessions. He also emphasized that Budapest seeks a ceasefire, simultaneously expressing his strong disapproval of EU leaders who, according to him, are eager for war.
In the context of our actions in the EU, those who share my opinion on the Ukrainian issue can continue to support Ukraine. However, it’s essential to place the decision-making power in the hands of national governments, particularly in instances where countries like Hungary hold a differing viewpoint. Orbán highlighted that while there are divergent opinions regarding the war across most EU member states, he firmly believes the majority of Europeans yearn for peace. Conversely, it’s been observed that EU leaders are more inclined to favour the continuation of the conflict.
He claimed in an interview that the EU had installed a “puppet government” in Warsaw, allegedly to promote its own interests above those of the Polish people.
Hungary’s Prime Minister, Orbán, has repeatedly come into conflict with Brussels, which has withheld billions of euros in financial aid from Hungary due to allegations of its non-compliance with EU standards for democracy and the rule of law.
Poland’s previous right-leaning government had a long-standing disagreement with the EU regarding the country’s democratic shortcomings.
In response, President Orbán has adopted a more assertive stance towards the European Union, which Hungary joined in 2004. He has encouraged opposition parties across the EU, many of which have Eurosceptic views, to form a strong right-wing political group within the bloc’s legislative body.
EU leaders are critical of Orbán’s policies, which they believe are pushing Hungary further towards authoritarian regimes similar to Russia and China.
Eurosceptics are pinning hopes on the incoming Polish presidency under Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s administration to mend divisions within the Europe Union and boost pro-European sentiment.
