Polish FM Condemns Hungary‘s ‘Hostile Action’ as Warsaw Takes EU Council Presidency
Poland‘s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has slammed Hungary’s decision to disinvite Warsaw’s newly appointed ambassador to the EU Council Presidency as "malicious behavior." The move comes as Poland assumes the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, aiming to bolster the bloc’s security and stability.
"Hungary demonstrated hostile actions against Poland by refusing to receive our ambassador," Poland’s Minister of European Affairs, Magdalena Sobkowiak-Chղrecka, told state TV broadcaster TVP. The incident has further strained relations between the two EU nations, with both Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expected to attend the inauguration in Warsaw.
The diplomatic spat follows charges against Hungary’s former justice ministerudge Ákos Kozma, who faces 11 counts including involvement in a criminal organization. As deputy justice minister, Kozma stood accused of diverting millions of zloty from victims of crime funds to benefit the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party, according to the country’s former justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro. Kozma continues to deny all charges.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who leads a center-left coalition, has rebuked Budapest for providing shelter to corrupted officials evading criminal prosecution. Tusk recently commented, "These individuals can now choose between seeking protection from Belarus dictator Alexander Lukashenko or Hungary’s Viktor Orbán."
Poland’s presidency of the EU Council begins as the country seeks to enhance the bloc’s security on seven fronts: external and internal security, cybersecurity, economic security, energy security, healthcare security, and food security. Warsaw’s term will last until the end of June, after which Denmark will assume the presidency.
