High Representative of the European Union for Foreign and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, declares that he has decided not to hold the traditional informal meeting of foreign ministers in the Hungarian presidency, but will hold it in Brussels as a signal that the actions of the Prime Minister of the Hungarian Presidency, Viktor Orban, who opposed the Union's policy, will have consequences.

He said this at a press conference after the meeting of the EU Council on Foreign Affairs on Monday. As it is known, Orban, without the consent of the EU, carried out a so-called "peacekeeping mission" to Moscow and Beijing, which caused serious criticism from the EU, and the European Commission announced a boycott of informal meetings.

Borrell noted that there was no consensus among the ministers on this issue. “I tried to do my best in order to get unity, I was listening to everybody, listening to all arguments, trying to make them converge – maybe in the middle of the way position. It has not been possible. Some were willing to go to Budapest – business as usual -, others clearly did not want to go, and others said ‘ok, it is up to the High Representative to decide,’” the High Representative described the discussion.

Borrell stated that this decision depends on him. “After listening to everyone, and spending hours discussing and trying to understand the reasons of ones and others, I had to take a decision. I understood that we have to send a signal, even if it is a symbolic signal that has been against the foreign policy of the European Union. And disqualifying the policy [communicated by a Member State that] of the European Union as the party at war has to have some consequences. Well, formal consequences. Symbolic consequences, nothing really happens. I think it was much more appropriate to show this feeling and to call for the next [informal] Foreign and Defence Council meeting informal in Brussels, when we come back from holidays,” he explained his decision.