Belgian PM: Depriving Hungary of the EU Presidency is not a good idea

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo is not in favour of stripping Hungary of its EU presidency. He fears that such a decision would be counterproductive and could even put Hungary in a “position of luxury”.

Speaking in the Chamber on Tuesday, the Belgian Prime Minister said he shared Parliament’s concern about the rule of law situation in Hungary. Alexander De Croo said that Belgium and the government had always been clear on the issue, but that it was not a good idea to deprive Hungary of the presidency, according to The Brussels Times.

“In my view, it would be counterproductive. The presidency is not only a privilege, but it is also a duty,” De Croo said. “It obliges a Member State to show its colours, to play its role as president and to be a conciliator. [Depriving the country] would even put Hungary in a position of luxury.”

On 1 June, the European Parliament voted Hungary ineligible for the rotating presidency. 442 MEPs voted in favour, 144 against and 33 abstained on the resolution against Hungary.

The resolution questions Hungary’s eligibility to hold the EU presidency in 2024. It also lists 24 points of objections that it says Hungary is violating the rule of law and fundamental rights, and refers to the freezing of EU funds against the country.

In an opinion piece published in Politico, lawyer Alberto Alemanno wrote: “Ultimately, blocking Hungary’s presidency isn’t about sanctioning Orbán — it’s about preserving the bloc’s operation and good governance.” According to the lawyer, the chances of Hungary’s EU presidency being blocked are greater than ever.