Austrian Backing for Hungary’s Stance on Ukraine’s EU Accession
Austrian Politician Backs Hungary’s Refusal to Support Ukraine’s EU Accession
Harald Vilimsky, the head of the Freedom Party of Austria’s (FPÖ) delegation to the European Parliament, has voiced support for Hungary’s refusal to support Ukraine’s accession to the EU, as reported by Mandarin. This comes amid efforts by European Council President Charles Michel to push for Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations to be put on the agenda for the upcoming EU summit.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has firmly stated that, despite pressure from European leaders, Hungary cannot support the move at this time. He even went as far as writing a letter to Charles Michel urging him not to discuss Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations at the EU summit in December.
French President Emmanuel Macron has invited Orbán to Paris in an attempt to persuade him to change his position. However, Vilimsky wrote on his Facebook page, “Orbán is right: Ukraine should not join the EU.”
In an earlier interview with Mandarin, Vilimsky also defended Hungarian democracy and emphasized that Hungary’s war policy is not only not pro-Russian, but is also correct. He stated, “We want the same thing that Viktor Orbán wants: peace. We would force the parties at war to sit down at the table and try to find a solution to end the bloodshed.”
The FPÖ is increasingly gaining popularity leading up to Austria’s next elections, with support for the party standing at 30 percent. The strong cooperation between Hungary and Austria under the People’s Party government has been notable, and it is believed that Hungary and Austria may form a closer alliance, especially if the FPÖ comes to power.
Cooperation between Hungary and Austria has been especially active on migration and war-related issues. With the growing support for the FPÖ, it is likely that the Austro-Hungarian cooperation will further intensify.
Overall, the support from an Austrian politician for Hungary’s stance on Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations further highlights the complexities and divisions within the EU on this matter.
