Juncker to hold talks with Orbán at next EU summit

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker will be prepared to discuss any issue with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán when they sit down for talks at the EU digital summit to be held in Tallinn at the end of the month, an EC spokesperson said on Friday. 

The European Commission never engages in “verbal ping pong” with the government or head of government of any member state, Margaritis Schinas said in response to a journalist’s question at a regular EC press briefing in Brussels.

The spokesman said that in a recent letter sent to Orbán, Juncker had made clear the EC’s position on all the points of disagreement between Hungary and the EC.

Juncker’s letter came in response to the Hungarian prime minister’s request that the EU reimburse Hungary for half its spending on border protection.

As regards the EC president’s response, Schinas said the commission was ready to support all member states in their efforts to protect the EU’s external borders and manage the migrant crisis. He added, however, that “solidarity is a two-way street” which all member states must share in.

On Wednesday, the European Court of Justice dismissed a case launched by Hungary and Slovakia challenging the legality of the migrant resettlement scheme.

The Hungarian government turned to the Luxembourg-based court in December 2015 over the quota scheme, asking the ECJ to annul the European Council resolution on relocating 120,000 refugees to member states on a mandatory basis.

The scheme was approved by the EU interior ministers in a majority vote a few months before despite Hungary’s objection.

Source: MTI