Upcoming EU foreign ministers meeting to be held in Brussels despite Hungary’s presidency

The next meeting of the EU-27 foreign ministers will be held in Brussels instead of Budapest, despite Hungary holding the rotating presidency of the EU Council, EU diplomacy chief Josep Borrell announced.

Shortly after Hungary assumed the presidency, Hungarian President Viktor Orbán embarked on what he described as a "peace mission" to Moscow and Beijing, actions taken without the knowledge or mandate of his EU partners.

His actions along with Hungary’s position on Ukraine have led to increased tensions, prompting some member states to advocate for a tougher stance on Budapest, including a proposed boycott of the ministerial meeting initially scheduled in Hungary.

Borrell stated that the decision to relocate the meeting to Brussels was directly influenced by Hungary's stance on Ukraine.

“I understood that we have to send a signal, even if it is a symbolic signal, that being against the prime policy of the European Union and disqualifying the policy of the European Union as the party of war has to have some consequences,” he said.