European Union Changes Land of Ministers' Meeting From Budapest to Brussels

The Hungarian foreign minister reacted with contempt Tuesday to the European high representative's decision to change the country of the European Union's foreign ministers' meeting from Budapest to Brussels, in protest of Hungary's behaviour at the start of the EU presidency chairmanship.

The “for me is the same --” said Hungarian Minister Peter Szijarto through a statement.

EU High Representative for Foreign Policy Josep Borrell changed the meeting's place after Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban launched a peace mission for Ukraine at his own initiative, holding meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Republican candidate for president Donald Trump.

Mr Orban, a nationalist whose positions often run counter to EU policy, took the move without co-ordinating with other EU leaders or Ukraine, just days after Hungary assumed the rotating presidency on 1 July.

“We must send a signal, even symbolic,” told reporters in Brussels on Monday, following the EU foreign ministers' recent meeting before the start of summer holidays.

Mr. Borrell said EU member states failed to find a consensus on the development of the ministers' meeting in Budapest, scheduled for August 28th-29th, as well as that of the defence ministers that would succeed.

He said he decided to change the meeting place from Budapest to Brussels since most countries wanted to send a message to Hungary because of Mr. Orban's contacts with Russia, which is the subject of EU sanctions due to aggression against Ukraine. / VOA