In recent years, the political dynamics within the European Union have become more complex as different views have been reflected among its member states. Hungary’s role within the EU might be a particularly salient example of these complexities. Hungary has drawn attention with its determination to block specific common policies within the EU.
Hungary, situated in the heart of Central Europe, has established a distinctive position in Europe’s political and social dynamics as a country with its rich history and culture. Hungary’s role and approaches within Europe have underlined the differences and political divisions within the EU. Hungary’s policies vary from certain facets of Europe’s broader integrated framework, making the country’s position in Europe more complex.
The EU’s joint statement condemning the “irregularities” in the Venezuelan presidential elections was blocked by Hungary. EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell issued his statement, emphasizing the importance of election transparency and that calls for new sanctions were “premature” at this stage. In Borrel’s statement, it was underlined that Venezuela must find a resolution to its political crisis, and discussions among member states were ongoing with a comprehensive review of the entire process to determine future actions. Hungary’s obstruction of the joint statement underscores the substantial influence of power dynamics and inter-state disagreements within the European Union. In June 2024, Hungary likewise, prevented the release of a statement condemning the Kremlin’s media ban. These actions illustrate Hungary’s significant role as an influential actor in international politics and its pivotal position in shaping discussions within the EU.[1]
The EU’s current sanctions include a blacklist of individuals accused of undermining democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela since 2017 and a ban on the export of weapons and equipment used to suppress street protests. Hungary’s veto could hinder efforts to enhance future sanctions against the Maduro regime. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has received considerable backlash from Europe due to his pro-Russian stance and growing rapprochement with Moscow. His meeting with Putin in Moscow and his visits, described as “Peace Mission 3.0,” has generated a diplomatic crisis in Brussels and other EU capitals.
Due to its position on the Ukraine conflict, the EU has revoked Hungary’s right to host the upcoming foreign affairs and defense ministers’ meeting. This decision was made after Hungary began its term as the rotating presidency of the European Council. The move responded to the backlash following Orbán’s meeting with Putin in Moscow. Borrell underlined that Hungary’s actions should have consequences and that sending a signal was necessary. Hungary condemned the decision as “entirely childish.”[2] Hence, an informal meeting is planned for Budapest from August 28-30, 2024, to discuss the bloc’s significant global challenges. However, Borrell declared that these meetings will be located in Brussels.
Of the other 26 EU countries, only Slovakia has supported Hungary in this dispute. Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel argued that a boycott would be “meaningless,” suggesting that visiting Budapest and engaging in dialogue to communicate the EU’s discontent with the actions would be much more effective.[3]
In response to these developments, Hungary introduced a new visa regime in July for eight countries, including Russia and Belarus. This policy allows visitors to enter Hungary and move freely to other EU countries without undergoing security checks. Weber has pointed out that these regulations “create significant gaps for espionage activities” which enables Russians to enter Hungary with minimal supervision.[4] Hence, EU officials have stressed that they are in contact with Hungarian authorities about this issue and have warned that reducing controls on Russian citizens could endanger the continent’s security.
Within Europe’s evolving boundaries, Hungary’s unique perspectives and policies could influence the continent’s future direction. In this sense, it is essential to understand how Hungary’s policies and strategic choices interact with the EU’s broader policies, as this is key to comprehending both historical and current dynamics.
Consequently, Hungary’s role within the EU influences the internal dynamics of Europe and international politics. This is an essential indicator of how Europe’s collective policies might evolve and how impactful they could be on the global stage.
[1] Hans Von Der Burchard, “Hungary blocks EU bid for unified statement on Venezuela election”, Politico, https://www.politico.eu/article/hungary-block-eu-statement-venezuela-election-results-foreign-policy-josep-borrell/, (Date of Accession: 31.07.2024).
[2] Christy Cooney, “Hungary stripped of EU meeting over Ukraine stance”, BBC, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgr542l753po (Date of Accession: 31.07.2024).
[3] Ibid.
[4] Aleksandar Brezar, “EPP’s Weber slams Hungary’s decision to ease visa restrictions for Russians”, Euronews, https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/07/30/epps-weber-slams-hungarys-decision-to-ease-visa-restrictions-for-russians, (Date of Accession: 31.07.2024).
