On Thursday 11 July, the President of the Renew Europe Group in the European Parliament, Valérie Hayer, called on the European Council to explore all legal measures necessary to end the Hungarian Presidency of the EU Council and hand over to Poland, following the “isolated actions” of Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orbán in recent days.
“The Hungarian Prime Minister is undermining the positions adopted by the European Union and is acting against our interests, and this must stop”, said Ms Hayer.
In particular, she criticised his attempt to “manipulate the Hungarian Presidency” in order to pursue “so-called peace missions” to Kyiv, Moscow and Beijing.
This diplomatic initiative also offended several Member States and was described as a “political mistake” by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel (see EUROPE 13450/5).
The Renew Europe group has also demanded that the Hungarian government stop using the logo of the Hungarian Presidency of the EU Council in communications and messages that run counter to the positions adopted by the EU.
The President of the Group will ensure that an urgent debate on the actions of the Hungarian Presidency is held, in the presence of Mr Michel, at the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 15 July.
“I expect the President of the EU Council to state clearly that Orbán does not speak on behalf of the EU”, stressed Ms Hayer.
Renew Europe is also calling on the European Council and the European Commission to take further steps to apply Article 7 of the Treaty, which could potentially lead to the withdrawal of Hungary’s voting rights (see EUROPE 13450/6). (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)