Big member states 'backing out of EU', warns Hungary FM[fr][de] 

Balázs, who is a former EU commissioner, said that large member states were looking to "strengthen" the role of other institutions as alternative decision-making fora. 

The foreign minister said Germany had been working "to seize economic institutions and to strengthen the G20" since 2007. 

In line with views recently expressed by Belgian Foreign Minister Karel de Gucht (EurActiv 21/04/09), he argued that the aim of such actions was to leave smaller EU member states "behind", with larger members preferring to deal with states that have "similar influence and weight". 

According to Balázs, for big member states, the problem with the EU is that its small members get a disproportionate opportunity to speak and influence the debate, "with no regard for their size". "Therefore Malta has an equal chance to speak as Germany," noted the Hungarian. 

Paris-Berlin axis 

However, despite this, he remained adamant that the Paris-Berlin axis "provides the basis of the EU". 

"It is very difficult to achieve anything in the EU without France or Germany," Balázs conceded. 

Asked about the sometimes strained nature of the Paris-Berlin relationship, the foreign minister said "their relationship does not concern us". He concluded with a word of advice: "You do not stand between wrestling elephants!" 

Nationalism 

Referring to difficult relations between Hungary and Slovakia, he said that "each side has its own extremists, and these people provoke each other". 

Balázs said he was not "seeking to cooperate with the Slovak National Party" (a Nationalist party in Slovakia's governing coalition), but rather "with Slovakia, in the name of Hungary". 

He lamented that nationalist circles in Slovakia "haven't reached that point of the identification process where they can settle the history wisely and look for the future".

The present Slovak cabinet is not "an ideal partner" for Hungary, he added. 

To read the interview in full, please click here.