01/07/2024 (Agence Europe) – The College of European Commissioners, which traditionally visits the capital of the country holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union at the beginning of each six-month period, will not be meeting the Hungarian government in Budapest at the beginning of July to mark the launch of the Hungarian Presidency. We are in contact with the Hungarian authorities to find a date that will “not be before the summer break”, said the European Commission’s chief spokesperson, Eric Mamer, on Monday 1 July. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is working hard to create a ‘patriots’ group in the European Parliament (see other news), while Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is focused on her own re-election by the European Parliament, following her appointment by the European Council (see EUROPE 13441/1). (MB)