MEPs Demand EU Strip Hungary of Voting Rights Over Unauthorized 'Peacekeeping' Trips to Russia and China

In a letter, MEPs appealed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel and European Parliament President Roberta Metcola to curb Budapest's fraudulent presidency of the Council of Europe, stating that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban ‘has already caused significant damage by using and abusing the role of the Council's presidency’. The appeal was signed by 63 MEPs, POLITICO reports.

Hungary took over the presidency of the EU Council from Belgium on 1 July. Since then, Orban has launched self-proclaimed ‘peace missions’. He has travelled unauthorised to Ukraine, Russia, Azerbaijan, China and the United States, claiming to represent the EU without any mandate from the EU.

During these illegitimate trips, he deliberately misrepresented his credentials, European lawmakers wrote and called on the European Parliament to react accordingly.

‘This calls for real action, such as suspending Hungary's voting rights in the Council, as practice has shown that mere verbal condemnations of this situation have no effect,’ the MEPs added.

The letter, supported by MEPs from a number of countries and parliamentary groups, including EPP, Renew, Left and Greens, is the latest attempt to condemn Budapest for its dishonest presidency. 

The European Commission has also asked its commissioners not to attend informal meetings of Hungarian ministers, as announced on Monday.