SwedenLivingWorld world_2_fill WorldBusiness BusinessSports sports-soccer SportsEntertainmentEntertain

Sweden Opens Up to Depriving Hungary of EU Presidency

Sweden is sending no ministers to Hungary during the Hungarian EU presidency. But it's not enough, according to the Social Democrats. Ultimately, S is open to stripping Hungary of the presidency.

» Updated: 18 September 2024, 03:15

» Published: 12 July 2024

Sweden Opens Up to Depriving Hungary of EU Presidency
Photo: Noemi Bruzak/AP/TT

Sweden is sending no ministers to Hungary during the Hungarian EU presidency. But that's not enough, according to the Social Democrats.

The Social Democrats are now open to depriving Hungary of the presidency.

The reason is Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's "peace trips" to Moscow and Beijing.

"At the same time as Ukrainians are lying in trenches to defend their country's freedom, Prime Minister Orbán is using the Hungarian EU presidency to legitimize Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine by visiting, among other places, Moscow. This is very serious and unacceptable," says S leader Magdalena Andersson in a written comment to TT.

"I expect Ulf Kristersson to now do what he can to get the EU to consider the possibility of terminating Hungary's presidency."

The Swedish government announced on Thursday that no ministers will attend informal meetings in Budapest during the Hungarian presidency. Instead, Sweden will send officials.

This in response to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's "peace trips" to Moscow and Beijing recently.

No Ministers

The government's reaction is good – but Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) must go further, according to the Social Democrats. It's not enough to boycott the informal meetings in Budapest, but also the formal ones in Brussels, believes the party's EU policy spokesperson Matilda Ernkrans.

I think it's obvious that Sweden shouldn't send any ministers to upcoming council meetings. I want to see a strong marking from the Prime Minister, she says to TT.

No Swedish ministers at the council meeting. Period.

Hungary, as the presiding country, leads both formal council meetings in Brussels and informal meetings in Budapest from July 1 to the end of the year. At these, EU countries are sometimes represented by ministers, but July is otherwise a month when many are replaced by officials.

"Should Look at It"

Within the liberal group in the EU Parliament, Renew, there are demands to completely deprive Hungary of the presidency.

I think one should look at it too, says Ernkrans, but notes that it's not a question for the parliament.

Kristersson has come out strongly, saying that Orbán is hijacking the EU presidency in the council and using it for his own gain, not to represent the EU.

At the same time, other EU countries' governments, including Malta and Spain, have continued to send ministers to the informal meetings, including a recent environmental minister meeting on Thursday.

As the presiding country in the EU's council, Hungary is arranging a number of informal ministerial meetings in Budapest during the summer:

8–9 July: Trade and industry ministers

11–12 July: Environment ministers

15–16 July: Energy ministers

22–23 July: Home affairs and justice ministers

24–25 July: Health ministers

28–29 August: Foreign ministers

29–30 August: Defense ministers

Tags
TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Explosion in Western Stockholm
1 MIN READ

Explosion in Western Stockholm

Shooting in Fisksätra outside Stockholm
1 MIN READ

Shooting in Fisksätra outside Stockholm

Teenage boy arrested for rape at school
1 MIN READ

Teenage boy arrested for rape at school

Sex Offenders Relapse Less Often
3 MIN READ

Sex Offenders Relapse Less Often

Trade tightens security after shootings
1 MIN READ

Trade tightens security after shootings

People over 50 benefit from the internet
2 MIN READ

People over 50 benefit from the internet

Politician: Not a Renewed Social Democrat Party Heading to the Election
2 MIN READ

Politician: Not a Renewed Social Democrat Party Heading to the Election

Kristersson: "A good conversation with Donald Trump"
1 MIN READ

Kristersson: "A good conversation with Donald Trump"

Internal Criticism: "Trying to become the fifth Tidö Party"
3 MIN READ

Internal Criticism: "Trying to become the fifth Tidö Party"

Principal Prosecuted for Constitutional Offense
1 MIN READ

Principal Prosecuted for Constitutional Offense

Kristersson: Absolutely Not an Escalation of the War
2 MIN READ

Kristersson: Absolutely Not an Escalation of the War

One Dead in Drowning Accident in Blekinge
1 MIN READ

One Dead in Drowning Accident in Blekinge

Tent camp in Gothenburg forced to leave
1 MIN READ

Tent camp in Gothenburg forced to leave

Hybrid meat takes its place on store shelves
5 MIN READ

Hybrid meat takes its place on store shelves

Teenager arrested for attempted murder at hair salon
1 MIN READ

Teenager arrested for attempted murder at hair salon

The Doctors' Demand: Scrap the Journal System
3 MIN READ

The Doctors' Demand: Scrap the Journal System

The Social Democratic Leader: "Going to the Election as a Renewed Party"
3 MIN READ

The Social Democratic Leader: "Going to the Election as a Renewed Party"

Children under 15 years old suspected of gallery shooting
3 MIN READ

Children under 15 years old suspected of gallery shooting

Demand for Investigation of Journal Chaos
1 MIN READ

Demand for Investigation of Journal Chaos

Words fell out – VGR reports journal errors
1 MIN READ

Words fell out – VGR reports journal errors