12/07/24 (Agence Europe) – Sweden and several other European Union countries “will not be sending ministers to government meetings related to the Hungarian Presidency of the EU Council this month”, in protest at Victor Orbán’s talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Swedish government said on Thursday 11 July, quoted by Reuters. “Hungary’s actions during the Presidency are harmful and must have consequences. Sweden will therefore not be taking part at political level in the informal government meetings in July”, said Jessika Roswall, Sweden’s Minister for European Affairs, who has been appointed as her country's future European Commissioner. Ms Roswall also said that Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland would only be represented by civil servants, and that other EU member states were discussing similar measures. (SP)