EU officers blast Hungary’s Orban over Ukraine stance, democratic decline | European Union Information

Lawmakers belt out antifascist anthem, prompting European Parliament president to declare: ‘This isn’t Eurovision’.

Prime European Union officers have slammed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban over democratic backsliding at dwelling and his Russia-friendly stance that has blocked navy and monetary assist to Ukraine.

Orban, whose nation at the moment holds the EU’s six-month rotating presidency, got here beneath fireplace on Wednesday after warning officers gathered in Strasbourg, France, in regards to the “migration disaster” and the battle in Ukraine as he addressed the European Parliament.

Main the cost towards Orban, European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen took purpose at Budapest’s stalling of EU help for Kyiv and refusal to hitch Western efforts to arm Ukraine to combat off Moscow.

“The world has witnessed the atrocities of Russia’s battle. And but, there are nonetheless some who blame this battle not on the invader however the invaded,” mentioned von der Leyen.

“There are nonetheless some who blame this battle not on [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s lust for energy however on Ukraine’s thirst for freedom.”

In July, Orban stoked controversy when he travelled on what the Hungarian authorities described as a “peace mission” to Moscow and Beijing with out coordinating with EU companions.

Manfred Weber, the chief of the conservative European Individuals’s Get together, mentioned he was shocked that Orban devoted not a “single sentence” to the plight of Ukraine in his speech, slamming his rogue diplomacy as a “massive propaganda present for the autocrats”.

Lawmakers lined as much as take purpose at Orban, who has repeatedly clashed with Brussels over his curbing of civil rights at dwelling since coming into workplace in 2010, with Inexperienced co-leader Terry Reintke declaring: “You aren’t welcome right here, that is the home of European democracy.”

Von der Leyen additionally skewered Orban’s stance on migration, accusing his authorities of “throwing issues over your neighbour’s fence” with the early launch of convicted individuals traffickers.

She took purpose at a Hungarian visa scheme for Russian nationals, saying the shortage of safety checks posed “a … threat not just for Hungary however for all member states”.

The EU chief additionally criticised an settlement between Budapest and Beijing permitting Chinese language cops to patrol in Hungary along with their Hungarian counterparts.

“How can it’s that the Hungarian authorities would permit Chinese language police to function inside its territory? This isn’t defending Europe’s sovereignty, it is a backdoor for overseas interference,” she mentioned.

Mainstream members of the European Parliament (MEPs) had promised to carry Orban to account with the Hungarian opposition leader-turned-MEP Peter Magyar among the many audio system lined as much as problem him.

“No money for corrupt,” learn one banner held up by left-wing lawmakers, in a reference to the billions of euros in EU funds for Hungary at the moment frozen over rule-of-law considerations.

After Orban’s speech, lawmakers against his hard-right positions had damaged out in a rendition of the antifascist anthem, Bella Ciao, prompting Roberta Metsola, president of the European Parliament, to name for order, saying, “This isn’t Eurovision”.