Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo is not in favour of depriving Hungary of the EU Council Presidency, as he fears that such a decision would be "counterproductive" and could even put the country in a position of luxury.
During the first half of 2024, Belgium will hold the Council Presidency of the European Union. Then, it will be Hungary's turn but opposition against the country's presidency has arisen in the European Parliament: in a resolution, MEPs denounced the total disrespect for the rule of law by the Hungarian government – led by Prime Minister Victor Orbán.
Additionally, the Parliament also said that it has no confidence in the Hungarian presidency of the European Council of Ministers and asks the other Member States to find a "solution" for this.
On Tuesday in the Chamber, De Croo stated that he shared the Parliament's concern about the situation of the rule of law in Hungary. "Our country and our government have always been clear about this," he said, but added that he thinks it is "not a good idea at all" to deprive Hungary of the Presidency.
"In my view, it would be counterproductive. The presidency is not only a privilege, but it is also a duty," De Croo said. "It obliges a Member State to show its colours, to play its role as president and to be a conciliator. [Depriving the country] would even put Hungary in a position of luxury."
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The Hungarian government, led by Orbán's right-wing populist party, has long been accused of "deliberate and systematic efforts" to weaken democratic norms and the rule of law, but the situation continues to worsen. The European Parliament raised examples of Orbán alimenting systemic corruption, continuous attacks on LGBTQ rights and the infringement of teachers’ social and labour rights.
The government has bypassed sufficient democratic scrutiny through the "abusive" invocation of the "state of danger," MEPs say, passing laws without sufficient parliamentary scrutiny, public consultation and often ruling by decree.
