European Parliament condemns Orban's visit to Moscow

The European Parliament condemned Orban's Russia visit as "a blatant violation of the EU's Treaties and common foreign policy". The resolution also included sections on the EU's continuous support for Ukraine. 

After being rebuked by various EU countries and leaders for his surprise visits this month to Russia and Beijing, the European Parliament has now also strongly criticised Hungarian President Viktor Orban for meeting Vladimir Putin in Moscow. In a resolution, the body condemned his Russia visit as "a blatant violation of the EU's Treaties and common foreign policy". The resolution was adopted by a large majority of 495 EU lawmakers, out of the 679 that voted. 

Hungary took over the rotating six-month EU presidency this month from Belgium. This puts Orban in charge of organising EU meetings but it does not authorise him to conduct diplomacy on behalf of the bloc. The European Parliament said it considers this behaviour as a violation that “should be met with repercussions for Hungary.”

For the Christian Democratic and Conservative EPP, the Socialist S&D, the Conservative-Nationalist ECR, the Liberal Renew and the Greens in the Parliament, it was symbolically important to reaffirm support for Ukraine in its opening session. After all, Orban managed to form the third-largest group with Patriots of Europe by teaming up with parties such as Vlaams Belang, Rassemblement National and PVV. 

^{Viktor Orban © BELGA PHOTO BENOIT DOPPAGNE}