If a decision-maker does not veto the outcome, the prevailing advice is silence. That was the message Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo delivered to reporters before quickly adding a regrettable correction: he acknowledged that he should not have spoken. He directed these remarks at Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban during the exchange.
READ ALSO: Surprising news. Orban was not present when the European Council reached its Ukraine decision. Sources suggest Scholz had proposed the move.
“I shouldn’t have said that.”
Orban did not participate in the vote on beginning Ukraine’s accession talks, yet he later criticized the EU decision as being a misstep.
What matters, in the end, is the act of exercising a veto or not.
– stated the Prime Minister of Belgium.
De Croo emphasized that the choice to start membership talks with Ukraine carried significance for both Kyiv and Moscow.
A historic decision
At the EU summit held Thursday in Brussels, leaders approved the launch of accession negotiations with both Ukraine and Moldova.
Additionally, the European Council offered Georgia the status of a candidate country.
Senior EU diplomats conveyed that none of the leaders at the gathering opposed these resolutions.
Before the summit, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban reiterated his country’s opposition to beginning Ukraine’s accession talks. He argued that Ukraine has only fulfilled three of seven conditions set by the EU for opening negotiations, claiming there are no grounds to initiate talks with Kyiv.
READ MORE: Historic day for Ukraine and Moldova. The European Council decided to start accession negotiations. Zelensky called it a victory for Europe.
“I respect the fact that he didn’t do it.”
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar told reporters that he respects Viktor Orban for not blocking the start of talks on Ukraine’s EU accession.
In fairness to Orban, Varadkar noted the arguments were presented forcefully. He also observed that Orban chose not to use a veto, a decision Varadkar respects.
Varadkar suggested Orban should explain the motivations behind Hungary’s approach to the EU agreement on Kyiv, hinting at deeper considerations that guided this unexpected move, as reported by Politico.
Varadkar added that in the future there would be many votes on this issue, which could restore Orban’s veto options if needed.
kk/PAP
Source: wPolityce