Hungary's row with Brussels explodes as VDL forced to pause bloc's expansion plan
Hungary's row with the EU has escalated, forcing the bloc to consider pausing its expansion plan
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Hungary's row with the EU has escalated, forcing the bloc to consider pausing its expansion plan.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban threatened to derail the EU's plan to grant Ukraine membership, saying Hungary would not take a decision on the nation's accession to the bloc until EU leaders held a "strategic discussion" on the issue.
European Council President Charles Michel will travel to Budapest at the start of next week to try to come to an agreement with Orban.
But it looks increasingly likely that the EU will be forced to delay formal accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova until next year as a result of Hungary's opposition to the plans.
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Michel's trip to Budapest is part of an attempt to ensure that the upcoming EU leaders' summit, taking place in mid-December, runs without issue.
Hungrary has increasingly been at loggerheads with Von Der Leyen, with President Victor Orban accusing her of "pursuing her own agenda".
Von der Leyen is at odds with Orban on multiple issues, including Hungary's refusal to sanction Russia.
The country has maintained strong economic ties to the Russian regime, and continues to import pipeline oil and gas from Putin.
Meanwhile, there is a growing perception among Hungarian officials that the Commission forces its policies upon member states.
As a result, Orban's Political Director, Balázs Orban, has warned that Hungary’s support for Von der Leyen at next year's EU elections is no longer a given.
Spealing to Politico, he said: "We were very supportive of her.
"But now she’s pushing her own political agenda without consulting member states, on geopolitics, relationship with the U.S. and China, on war issues, sanctions."
He accused Von der Leyen of being at the helm of a "divisive" routine, saying that "the way the Commission is operating is not good for unity".
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European Council President Charles Michel will travel to Budapest at the start of next week to try to come to an agreement with Orban
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He added: "They come up with a proposal and then put pressure on member states to say yes."
However, Hungary does not have a veto over the election of the next EU commission chief.
As a member of the council, it has a vote on whether Von der Leyen wil have a second term, but EU leaders are not required to reach a unanimous decision.