Renew Europe urges European Council to halt Hungary's continued leadership role in Europe - Live Update

The European Council faces growing pressure to address Hungary's actions during its six-month tenure as the President of the Council of the European Union.

Since assuming this role at the beginning of July, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has drawn criticism for a controversial visit to Moscow, where he met with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Valérie Hayer, representing Renew Europe and closely associated with French President Emmanuel Macron, expressed concerns about Hungary's conduct during this period. She emphasized the need for decisive action against Orbán's actions that appear to diverge from EU consensus.

"We must address Viktor Orbán’s presidency within the Council," Hayer stated. "His trip was ostensibly a diplomatic mission, yet it has raised alarms about national security and transparency." The incident comes shortly after Russia's aggression against civilian infrastructure in Kyiv, intensifying international apprehension regarding Orbán’s motives during his tenure.