By Lili Bayer (OTC:)
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Hungary is placing European safety in danger, European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen mentioned on Wednesday in an unusually blunt speech blasting Budapest’s relationship with Russia and China.
Talking at a debate with nationalist Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on the European Parliament in Strasbourg, von der Leyen took goal at Budapest’s reluctance to affix EU companions in serving to Ukraine in opposition to Russia’s invasion, and its choices strengthening ties with Moscow and Beijing.
“The world has witnessed the atrocities of Russia’s war. And yet, there are still some who blame this war not on the invader but the invaded,” mentioned von der Leyen, a centre-right German politician and ex-defence minister.
“There are still some who blame this war not on (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s lust for power but on Ukraine’s thirst for freedom. So I want to ask them, would they ever blame the Hungarians for the Soviet invasion in 1956?” she mentioned.
In response, Orban mentioned he was “surprised” by von der Leyen’s speech and he rejected any parallel between Hungary’s failed 1956 rebellion in opposition to Soviet oppression and Ukraine’s battle to defend its territory.
He repeated his name for a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Orban, who has been in energy since 2010 and whose nation presently holds the EU’s six-month rotating presidency, has repeatedly clashed with European establishments over considerations that he has undermined democratic norms in Hungary and pursued shut relationships with Russia and China exterior EU coverage.
In July, Orban stoked controversy when he travelled on what the Hungarian authorities has described as a “peace mission” to Moscow and Beijing throughout Hungary’s presidency with out coordinating with its EU companions.
Von der Leyen criticised a Hungarian programme easing visa restrictions for Russians and Belarusians, and an settlement between Budapest and Beijing permitting Chinese language cops to patrol in Hungary along with their Hungarian counterparts.
“How can it be that the Hungarian government invites Russian nationals into our union without additional security checks? This makes the new Hungarian visa scheme a security risk not only for Hungary, but for all member states,” she mentioned.
“How can it be that the Hungarian government would allow Chinese police to operate within its territory? This is not defending Europe’s sovereignty, this is a backdoor for foreign interference,” von der Leyen added.
She additionally pointed to Hungary’s continued reliance on Russian power after many nations within the 27-member EU decreased their dependency in response to Russia’s invasion.
“One member state just looked for alternative ways to buy fossil fuels from Russia. Russia has proven time and again it is simply not a reliable supplier. There can be no more excuses. Whoever wants European energy security first and foremost has to contribute to it,” she mentioned.
