Hungary and Poland caused a huge scandal at the EU Council: the two countries even blocked the already vague final text on migration – thus silently sending Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) home.
Chancellor Karl Nehammer was very keen to talk about migration and push for clear words in the summit conclusions. But nothing came of that. Poland and Hungary faced each other on Friday and even blocked the planned text, which was very vague anyway. “It was a fight for freedom, not an uprising,” said Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who, like his Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki, opposed the agreed asylum pact.
In their intention to take the blockade to the extreme, both make more than questionable statements. “They want to force Hungary to build migrant ghettos,” says Orbán.
What does that mean?
But what does the defiant obstruction mean for the asylum pact agreed by the interior ministers? Is this even the beginning of the end of the deal celebrated as a breakthrough? German Chancellor Olaf Scholz tried to calm down after the summit on Friday: it is natural that not everyone has the same point of view. He assumes that the mechanism of the migration and asylum pact – distribute refugees fairly across Europe or buy their freedom with large sums of money – works.
However, Scholz also stressed the need for European solidarity. And as you know, it’s not far from that. Hungary and Poland are likely to continue their blackmail tactics, they could veto any European projects to be decided unanimously.
Nehammer is silent
And what did Chancellor Nehammer say after the scandal and the outcome, which he did not like at all? Nothing at all for now. He skipped the press conference that all heads of state and government usually hold after the summit and left Brussels without saying a word. Only much later did the Chancellery send a written message – the protests of Hungary and Poland were acknowledged.
Nehammer will appear side by side with Orbán next week. The Hungarian Prime Minister and the Serbian head of state Vučić attend a migration summit in Vienna.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
