European Commission says it cannot strip Hungary of its EU presidency

The European Commission has said that it cannot legally deprive Hungary of the presidency of the EU Council, but it can boycott it. Vera Jourova, vice-president of the European Commission for Values and Transparency, said this in an interview with Suspilne.

Jourova noted that as a lawyer she can assert – Hungary can not be striped of the presidency of the Council of the EU.

“There is no possibility to do that. However, we can boycott and openly show that we disagree with Mr. Orban’s policies. We are doing this now, and we are gradually preparing for the Polish presidency, which starts after the New Year,” the official said.

She emphasized that despite his actions, Viktor Orban will not be able to cause harm within the EU.

“The Hungarian presidency falls at a time when the Council will not take any key decisions, because we are at the beginning of the legislative period, of changing mandates in the institutions,” Jourova said.

Hungary’s presidency of the EU Council, which began on July 1, is supposed to last six months, but the term is not actually firmly fixed.