Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli fighter jets targeted the Mezzeh military airport and the Moadamiyeh al-Sham mountains with several airstrikes.
Israeli fighter jets targeted the 100th Regiment in the vicinity of the Qatana area in the southwestern Damascus countryside.
The counterterrorism unit in Kurdistan Iraq says a kamikaze drone hit the US' Hand Oil field in the Baadari area of Dohuk governorate.
Israeli occupation army: Air raid sirens sounded in various areas after a missile was detected from Yemen
Hezbollah: Experience has proven that this enemy does not respect covenants, does not abide by any agreements, and only grasps the language of force
Hezbollah: This aggression is nothing but a new episode in the enemy's plans to invade countries and sow discord and divisions among the people of one nation
Hezbollah: The aggression against Syria is a continuation of the series of attacks carried out against Lebanon, Palestine, and Yemen
Hezbollah: We strongly condemn the brutal Zionist aggression that targeted our brotherly country, Syria, in a blatant attack on its national sovereignty
Sheikh al-Hijri: Any person or entity that deviates from the unified position and communicates or agrees will expose itself to accountability without exception or leniency
Sheikh al-Hijri: There is no agreement, negotiation, or authorization with the armed gangs that falsely call themselves the government

EU planning to stop Hungary from assuming Council presidency: report

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Spiked
  • 2 Jun 2023 16:06
3 Min Read

As the presidency is due to be handed to Hungary in the second half of 2024, the EU is attempting to prevent it from happening since the European Parliament has been committed to cutting off the country and its prime minister, Viktor Orban.

  • x
  • Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban at the parliament in Budapest, Hungary, on March 27, 2023 (AP)
    Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban at the parliament in Budapest, Hungary, on March 27, 2023. (AP)

The presidency of the European Council rotates every six months, which allows the holder, a different EU member every time, a certain degree of power to influence the EU’s policy priorities.

As the presidency is due to be handed to Hungary in the second half of 2024, the EU is attempting to prevent it from happening since the European Parliament has been committed to cutting off the country and its prime minister, Viktor Orban.

MEPs drew a resolution last month calling into question Hungary's ability to manage a successful presidency, which was just passed by the parliament this week, however, it is not legally binding since the Parliament carries no jurisdiction over the appointment of the Council’s presidency.

The resolution and its pertaining discussion in Brussels mark a significant escalation in the EU’s long-running culture war against Hungary.

Organizers of the resolution claim that Hungary violated the rule of law, thus losing credibility. 

French Green MEP and one of the resolution authors, Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield, confessed that "official texts from the treaties are not very talkative about what we can or cannot do. Even experts that I consulted are not very clear on what can be done."

Read next: Hungary PM Orban censures Brussels for 'Hungarophobia'

Related News

EU plans WTO alternative as Trump escalates tariffs: FT

France's Le Pen hosts European allies in show of far-right unity

"It will be for us to invent now what we can do about this presidency". 

Another author of the resolution, Sophie in ’t Veld, and a known anti-Hungarian critic claimed that the Parliament is "not entirely powerless" and that "it's about time we start to play hardball". 

With that being said, the European Commission has often used economic blackmail to interfere in Hungarian domestic affairs.

"I have doubts about the extent to which Hungary will be able to lead a successful council presidency", Germany’s Europe minister, Anna Lührmann, expressed this week.

The German government has recently exercised a disproportionate influence over EU affairs, proving a powerful ally to anti-Hungarian members. 

Hungary has been staunchly opposed to the European Union's policies against Russia since the onset of the Ukraine war, with Prime Minister Viktor Orban refusing to impose sanctions the way the rest of the bloc has, in addition to refusing various other anti-Russian measures.

The pro-EU parties worry that the protest resolution will succeed, as according to one report, "European parliamentarians are wary that Hungary could use the six-month mandate to promote policies that go against EU values at a sensitive moment". 

The plot is aimed at preventing Hungary from having leverage to promote its own values, such as its attachment to national sovereignty and tradition - and populism - with its opponents fearing it could set an example for other European dissident voices and parties to follow. 

Read more: EU freezing Hungarian funds aimed at changing Budapest policies: Orban

  • Hungary
  • Viktor Orban
  • Europe
  • European Parliament
  • European Union

Most Read

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025
An Israeli soldier abandons an excavator during an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades. Arabic text reads "The moment the soldier fled", July, 10, 2025 (Al Qassam Military Media)

Israeli media rue al-Qassam footage, alarmed by fighters among troops

  • Politics
  • 11 Jul 2025
This satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows damage after an Iranian attack at the al Udeid Airbase outside of Doha, Qatar, June 25, 2025 (Planet Labs PBC via AP)

Satellite images show Iran attack damaged US comms dome in Qatari base

  • Politics
  • 11 Jul 2025
Ukraine’s Corporate Carve-Up Collapses?

Ukraine’s Corporate Carve-Up Collapses?

  • Analysis
  • 11 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Khamenei: Iran holds powerful strategic cards
Politics

Sayyed Khamenei: Iran holds powerful strategic cards

New cars are parked in the port of the southern city of Umm el Rashrash, near the border with Egypt, Occupied Palestine, February 15, 2012 (AFP)
Politics

Eilat Port shut down due to debts, Red Sea blockade

Smoke rises after and Israeli drone launched an airstrike on the entrance of the Syrian Ministry of Defense, Damascus, Syria, July, 16, 2025 (social media)
Politics

'Israel' hits Syrian military HQ in Damascus, strikes Sweida

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi gestures to the media as he walks between meetings during the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meeting and related meetings at the Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur Friday, July 11, 2025 (AP)
Politics

China backs Iran’s nuclear rights, calls for diplomacy over force

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS