Poland refuses to invite Hungarian Ambassador to EU Presidency handover ceremony
Photo: Poland refused to host Orbán at EU Presidency handover ceremony (Getty Images)
Poland has decided not to invite the Hungarian ambassador to an event marking the start of Warsaw's EU presidency. This decision follows Hungary's provision of asylum to a former deputy minister under investigation over alleged misuse of public funds, Reuters reports, citing Deputy Minister for European Affairs Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka.
According to Sobkowiak-Czarnecka, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was also not invited to the ceremony at the Grand Theatre in Warsaw.
Warsaw reacted angrily when, last month, Hungary granted political asylum to Marcin Romanowski, a former deputy minister of justice in Poland, who was detained in July of the previous year as part of an investigation into the misuse of state funds.
Romanowski was quickly released after the president of the European rights assembly stated that he had immunity as a member of the body.
"When we invited guests to our gala almost a month ago, we invited the entire diplomatic corps. But after the situation with Minister Romanowski, Minister (of Foreign Affairs) Sikorski decided that the Hungarian ambassador is not a welcome guest in the theatre today," said Sobkowjak-Charneck in televised comments.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and European Council President Antonio Costa were supposed to deliver speeches at the ceremony marking Poland's presidency of the European Union, which each member state holds in turn for six months.
Hungary held the presidency in the second half of 2024.
Tusk criticized Orbán on issues such as his stance on the war in Ukraine and policies that Poland considers pro-Russian. Orbán told Hungarian media that Tusk's government considers Hungarians as enemies.
Orbán's regime pursues an openly pro-Putin policy, blocking EU assistance to Ukraine. Hungary is the only EU country that Ukrainians perceive as hostile. It stands in the same line as countries like Iran, China, and North Korea.
