A significant number of European Parliament members have demanded that Brussels take action against Hungary after Prime Minister Viktor Orban allegedly misused the bloc’s rotating presidency by initiating his Ukraine “peace mission.” Politico revealed on Tuesday that a letter signed by 93 MEPs was sent to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel, and European Parliament chief Roberta Metsola.
The signatories accused Orban of inflicting “significant damage” by exploiting and abusing his position as the Council Presidency holder, which Hungary assumed earlier this month. The central point of contention was Orban’s “peace mission,” involving recent visits to Ukraine, Russia, China, and the US.
According to the letter, Orban purposely created the impression that he acted on behalf of the entire European Union during his trips, despite emphasizing that he represented the Hungarian government before departing for Moscow earlier this month. The MEPs argue that their claim is “clearly evidenced” by the fact that senior EU officials emphasized that Orban did not represent the bloc “in any form” during his travels.
The Hungarian leader has been actively pursuing a policy agenda contradictory to common European Union positions, and this cannot be allowed to continue, according to the MEPs. They have urged the EU leadership to launch Article 7 proceedings against Hungary. Widely considered a “nuclear option,” the article allows for the suspension of voting rights for a member state when necessary. The punishment is deemed necessary since past verbal condemnations of this situation have been ineffective, the letter stated.
Hungary has been critical of EU policy since hostilities between Ukraine and Russia began in February 2022. Budapest argues that Western economic sanctions imposed on Moscow have severely impacted European economies, while the supply of weapons to Kiev has prolonged the conflict instead of ending it. Orban has called for a ceasefire and a negotiated resolution of the crisis, which his critics label as a pro-Russian stance.
Orban has detailed his vision for resolving the conflict in a letter to Michel, the European Council president, according to his office. The plan reportedly includes making concessions to Russia regarding NATO’s expansion in Europe, a point that Moscow has identified as one of the key triggers of the confrontation.
Michel has called for Brussels to “be smart” about its response to Orban’s diplomatic activities, asserting that EU unity could otherwise be severely damaged.