Finland refuses to participate in EU meetings chaired by Hungary
Illustrative photo (pixabay.com)
Finland has decided to temporarily refrain from participating at the political level in informal ministerial meetings held under Hungary's presidency of the European Union, according to the Finnish government.
Finland's decision means that none of its ministers or political secretaries will attend these meetings, although Helsinki will still be represented at an official level. This move aligns with Finland's priorities within the EU, where supporting Ukraine remains a key focus.
Finland intends to continue actively influencing the agenda of the new European Commission. In this regard, the government plans to send letters to each new member of the European Commission after their confirmation.
Additionally, the EU Council of Ministers discussed two upcoming informal meetings scheduled for next week in Brussels: the Foreign Ministers' meeting on August 29 and the Defense Ministers' meeting on August 30.
Both meetings will focus on supporting Ukraine, including the possibility of additional funds for the Peace Facility from Russia’s Central Bank reserves. They will also discuss the situation in the Middle East and the EU's defense readiness.
Hungary boycott
Following Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's visits to China and Russia, six countries announced that they would not send their ministers to meetings organized by Hungary during its EU Council presidency. These countries include Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Finland.
Denmark later joined the boycott.
Additionally, the European Parliament passed a resolution condemning Orbán's visit to Russia, stating that this violation should have consequences for Hungary.
