Orban to Skip EU Summit, No Replacement Appointed

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban will not attend next week’s informal European Union summit in Cyprus and will not appoint a representative.

EU Affairs Minister Janos Boka confirmed that Orban will miss the talks on 23 and 24 April due to duties related to the formation of a new government.

Under EU rules, a prime minister can be represented at European Council meetings by the leader of another Member State. In Hungary’s case, this could include Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. However, Orban has not delegated representation to any counterpart.

The decision reflects the informal nature of the summit. “As no decisions or written conclusions will be taken at the informal meeting, the prime minister has not asked anyone to represent Hungary”, the minister’s statement said.

The agenda is expected to include the Middle East crisis and its impact on Europe, as well as discussions on the EU’s next seven-year budget. “The Hungarian government’s position on these issues is known and has not changed,” Boka said.

He added that Hungary would remain informed about the discussions, even without political representation at the meeting.

(hgv.hu, bak)