Slovakia rejects boycott of Hungarian presidency, cites ‘respect for sovereignty’

Bratislava will not boycott the activities of Hungary during its EU presidency, as Slovak President Peter Pellegrini said he saw no reason to punish the sovereign stance of an EU member.

Following a meeting with Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok in Budapest on Thursday, Pellegrini (HLAS party, suspended from the Party of European Socialists) assured that Slovak government representatives would fully participate in all relevant meetings organised by the Hungarian Presidency.

"I don't think anyone should be punished for trying to engage in dialogue, and the Slovak Republic is not going to do that," he said, referring to Viktor Orban's trips to Ukraine, Russia and China, which the EU institutions and member states did not approve of.

Pellegrini reiterated that he sees "no reason to punish the sovereign stance of an EU member state simply because someone disapproves."

Pellegrini also asked the Hungarian president to prioritise the fight against unfair trade practices and the persistence of double standards in food quality during the Hungarian presidency.

During the visit, Budapest also pledged to extend its assistance in protecting Slovakia's airspace until the end of 2025. Slovakia has faced challenges in maintaining its air defences after the previous pro-Ukrainian government transferred Slovak MiG-29 fighter jets and S-300 systems to Kyiv.

Wide disapproval from the EU

Recently, the European Commission and Sweden, Finland, Poland, and the Baltic states announced their intention to boycott Hungary’s presidency in response to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s visits to Moscow and Beijing.

Last Wednesday (10 July), 25 EU member states criticised Hungary for its diplomatic initiatives concerning Ukraine, arguing that Orbán’s actions are incompatible with holding the bloc’s rotating EU presidency. However, Slovakia was notably absent from this group.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico announced on Wednesday that he had instructed the foreign ministry to ensure that Slovak representatives in EU bodies do not support any proposals to punish Hungary regarding its "peace efforts."

Fico also labelled ideas to penalise Hungary as “crazy”.

During his first public appearance since an assassination attempt in May, Fico even expressed his willingness to accompany Orbán on these visits.

“If my health had allowed it, I would have gone to Kyiv and Moscow with Orbán,” he stated on 5 July.

(Natália Silenská | Euractiv.sk)