“There is a growing group of countries that strongly oppose the transfer of powers from the national to the European level. In Budapest, awareness of the dangers arising from the proposed changes in the EU is very high, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk, said on Monday after a conversation with his Hungarian counterpart, Peter Szijjarto.
Conversation between the heads of diplomacy of Poland and Hungary
Transferring several dozen areas of competence from the national level to the EU level could mean that countries actually lose the tools to protect their citizens in crisis situations.
– added the Polish minister.
The foreign ministers of Poland and Hungary also agreed on doubts about lowering the voting threshold in the EU Council from unanimity to qualified majority.
For example, if the EU’s multi-annual budget were adopted by a majority, this would mean that a group of countries could be excluded and their interests would not be taken into account during the negotiations.
– Szynkowski, aka Sęk, added
He informed Szijjarto of the results of consultations he held on this issue in other European capitals he had recently visited. The discussions also covered possible joint activities in this area within the Visegrad Group.
The first positive impact of the talks includes: that proposals for changes to the EU treaties will not be discussed in the General Affairs Council, and probably not at the next European Council (mid-December – PAP)
– said the minister.
We cannot allow silent attempts today to change the EU treaties
– added.
““Russia cannot be treated as a normal partner.”
The head of Polish diplomacy also said that during talks with Szijjarto he was critical of his last meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) summit in Skopje.
I consider this meeting a mistake. Russia cannot be treated as a normal partner you can rely on. The Kremlin will sooner or later use the instruments at its disposal, for example energy instruments, against the country with which it concludes agreements
– said Szynkowski, also known as Sęk. “I believe that we also need to talk honestly about the issues that divide us
– added.
If Hungarians express doubts about the new sanctions package being prepared against Russia, Poland – which has always supported the most ambitious sanctions package possible – will convince Budapest to change its position.
– said the minister. However, he conceded that the sanctions package was not the subject of Monday’s talks; this is handled by the countries’ permanent representations in Brussels.
Foreign ministers also discussed the enlargement of the European Union, including: Ukraine.
I argued to the Hungarian minister, whose government is aloof on this issue, that it is a matter of strategic EU security interests
– said Szynkowski, also known as Sęk.
yes/DAD
Source: wPolityce