Will the Budapest meeting of eurozone finance ministers be boycotted?

A meeting of eurozone finance ministers scheduled for 13 September in Budapest may be cancelled, following a decision by Irish Public Expenditure Minister, Paschal Donohoe, who is set to lead the session.

Budapest meeting of eurozone finance ministers at risk

Politico reports that the upcoming Eurogroup meeting of eurozone finance ministers in Budapest on 13 September is at risk of cancellation due to growing discontent over Hungary‘s close ties with Russia. Paschal Donohoe, the Irish Public Expenditure Minister and head of the gathering, will decide by next week whether to proceed, as some ministers, including those from Germany, Estonia, Finland, and Lithuania, have signalled their intention to boycott. The European Commission has also withdrawn its participation from meetings during Hungary’s EU presidency. The decision on whether to cancel the meeting may depend on discussions at upcoming talks in Brussels.

Hungarian Ministry of Finance reacts

However, Telex notes that despite these concerns, the meeting of eurozone finance ministers remains officially on the agenda, as confirmed by a Eurogroup spokesperson. When contacted by ATV, the Ministry of Finance did not comment on this particular meeting, instead referencing a different upcoming EU finance ministers’ meeting. The Ministry stated:

The Ministry of Finance is currently working on preparations for the September meeting in Budapest. In addition to the central bank governors, the two-day high-level meeting will be attended by the Managing Directors of the IMF, the Presidents of the EBRD and the EIB, and the Secretary General of the OECD, among others.

The Hungarian Finance Minister added:

In recent years, Europe has fallen significantly behind its competitors, and the Hungarian Presidency aims to restore the EU’s competitiveness. The Hungarian position is that there is no room for ideological and political debates in this work; we must work together on the challenges facing the EU.

Mihály Varga finance minister public debt g20
Photo: FB/Mihály Varga

Not the first boycott and probably not the last

The potential boycott of the Budapest meeting of eurozone finance ministers is not the first instance of EU member states boycotting meetings in Budapest during Hungary’s EU presidency. Germany, Sweden, Finland, Poland, and the Baltic states—Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania—have all announced plans to skip informal meetings during Hungary’s six-month presidency. In July, several EU finance ministers publicly criticised Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin rather than prioritising aid to Ukraine. Orbán’s recent visits to Russia and China, without prior coordination with EU leaders, have further unsettled member states and left EU politicians fuming.

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6 Comments

  1. Hungarian finance minister is all about working together and asking that no ideological nor political debates should interfere – oh well I gueass at least as long as everyone agrees with Hungarian Fidesz ideology and politics.

  2. Hungary – needs to Open Wider it’s eyes, to the GROWING dismissal of any roll, of any in-put, attempted contribution – that Hungary “puts up” to the European Union.
    This eurozone meeting of Finance Ministers – will FALL over.
    Reasons why it will just it additional country’s of the European Union, who will see another OPPORTUNITY to highlight – that Hungary are No Longer a Democracy.
    It will be used RIGHTFULLY to AGAIN demonstrate to the (3) three Stooges – the Hungarian Prime Minister – Victor Mihaly. Orban, the “Dud” Finance Minister – Mihaly Varga and the Foreign Minister – Peter Szijjarto – they are DISRESPECTED – not of TRUST.
    GROWING is the knowledge of the named three – Orban, Varga and Szijjarto – there Russian and Chinese – RELATIONSHIPS and of “favours” afforded them by the (2) two named Communistic country’s.
    The ROOTED deepness of Relationships by Hungary – “driven” there by the practices of the (3) three stooges, with communist Russia and China – a reversal by Hungary from it’s NOW Political alignment, is placed in a near position of IMPOSSIBLE.
    Victor Mihaly. Orban – as the “present” Prime Minister of Hungary, a country that is Economically & Financially in CHAOS, that the “Dud” of a Finance Minister – Mihaly Varga has been the MAIN architect, that has delivered Hungary to its present, and worsening Economic & Financial “demise”.
    WHAT is the extent of Orban and Vargas – agreed BORROWINGS – the Tax Payers – the Government Debt in Borrowings of which China & Russia – are the LENDERS at “horrific” interest rate charges ?
    WHAT – through not yet being PAID, the Debt owed to the European Union by Hungary – a Judged Debt, passed down by the Courts of Justice of the European Union – that the daily interest rate alone just HORRENDOUS ?
    Hungary – “you’ve made your bed now LIE in it” – muchly WHAT is SLAPPING – Orban, Varga and Szijjarto – the Fidesz Government – “smack” firmly RIGHTFULLY in there FACES, that NO softening will come from – be WITNESSED by deeper exampling dis-pleasure, there DISAPPROVAL of the Orban agendas – he has TRIED on the European Union.
    What CHAOS – on par to being an “image” in practice again, a replication of the DARKENED years in Hungary, under communist Russia – 1945 – 1989.
    Hungarians – if you LIKED the past and accepted IT – happy and content to LIVE it – it’s your RIGHT but if you have memories even an OPINION and HAVE doubt, you can MAKE a difference through growing SOLIDARITY of the Hungarian people, that we want to move on and forward as a DEMOCRACY – not under a Dictatorship – the “Gofers” of Russia and China, but under DEMOCRACY, and be of European Union and N.A.T.O. – Membership.

  3. Nobody follows the Hungarian model. The peace mission is as succesfull as the Hungarian pro-family models. Who would be insane enough to follow an failed country as Hungary?

  4. Jose, have you read the democrat policy of Kamala; you probably cannot read. What do you think wester child tax credits are all about? It is encouraging birthrate. There is a problem with your so-called critical thinking and understanding.

  5. Dear Sven, you misunderstand, Hungarian is trying to invite representatives of the member states that form the organisation you scathingly refer to as the EUSSR to Budapest and it’s incumbent on them whether they attend, not the other way around. How do you advise Hungary exercises resistance? Surely the only way would be by NOT allowing these individuals to visit Hungary, Clearly that won’t be necessary as they’re willing to refuse the invite of their own accord.

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