In an interview with Politico on Sunday 2 June, Belgium’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hadja Lahbib, called on the Member States to pursue the procedure to take away Hungary’s voting rights in the EU Council, as provided for in Article 7 of the Treaty.
“We have a Europe that is making difficult progress, unfortunately with certain States - one State in particular - that are increasingly adopting a transactional attitude, blocking and vetoing”, said the Belgian minister.
At the end of May, she denounced a new Hungarian block on military aid to Ukraine (see EUROPE 13417/7).
“I think we have to have the courage to take decisions: to go all the way with Article 7, to activate Article 7 all the way, which provides for the end of the right of veto”, she added, this last step requiring the unanimity of the other 26 countries.
The Belgian Presidency of the EU Council has scheduled a hearing for Belgium at the General Affairs Council on 25 June.
Hungary is now the only country to be subject to Article 7, following the closure of the Polish case. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)