Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban may try to use his influence on NATO enlargement to gain concessions from the EU. Politico writes about it.
The publication describes Hungary as “Europe’s troublemaker” and points out that although NATO members are more concerned about Turkey, Finland and Sweden’s joining the alliance, Viktor Orban’s government has delayed the approval of these countries’ applications.
Mate Kocsis, head of the Fidesz faction in the Hungarian parliament, said last week that there is now a “serious debate” over the two countries’ membership. Hungary now plans to send a delegation to Sweden and Finland to resolve emerging “political disputes”.
Orban himself said earlier that Hungary, in principle, supports the entry of Sweden and Finland into NATO, “you must first have serious discussions”.
Pointing to Finland and Sweden’s previous criticisms of Hungary on rule of law issues, he argued that some in his party “questioned the wisdom of accepting countries that spread blatant lies about Hungary, about the rule of law in Hungary, about democracy, about life here.” .
Orbán’s comments confirmed fears that Brussels might try to use his influence over NATO enlargement to force the Hungarian leader to make concessions on rule of law issues.
Former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban approved He applied for Finland and Sweden to join the North Atlantic Alliance and asked the ruling parliamentary party Fidesz to support this stance.
The previous day, Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin statedHe said the delay in Finland and Sweden’s entry into NATO questions the open-door policy and undermines the alliance’s credibility. Marin added that the ratification of the agreement by Finland and Sweden is now in the hands of Turkey and Hungary. He said he had not heard of any special conditions for approval from Hungary.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at a joint press conference with Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin in Helsinki declarationThat Finland and Sweden join NATO is the alliance’s “first priority”.
So far, 28 out of 30 NATO members have approved the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO. Only Hungary and Turkey have not done so yet.