Netherland not boycotting Hungary; Justice Min. heading to Budapest

Minister David van Weel of Justice and Security (VVD) will attend an informal ministerial meeting in Budapest on Monday. Various parties in the European Union, including from within Van Weel’s own VVD, are now calling for a boycott of Hungary because of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s solo actions. But according to Prime Minister Dick Schoof, “there has been no discussion about this in the Cabinet.”

“This line has been the Netherlands’ line all week,” said Schoof on the sidelines of the summit of the European Political Community (EPC) in Woodstock, England. According to Schoof, the Cabinet is making a pragmatic choice. It looks at the EU agenda “per meeting” and weighs up “the interests of the Netherlands.”

Schoof does not consider it a problem that there are different ideas between the Dutch government and parliament about how to respond to Hungary. “It is up to parliament to choose its own position and to the Cabinet to choose our position. The government governs, parliament controls.”

At the EPC, the Chairman of the EU heads of government, Charles Michel, said that he is seriously opposed to boycotting Hungary. He considers it a decision of principle. According to him, relations in Europe will deteriorate if the EU responds to Orbán’s provocations with its own provocations like this boycott.

The European Commission has announced that it will not send commissioners to informal meetings in Hungary. The EU’s executive leader is upset about Orbán’s self-declared peace mission to Russia and China. Hungary holds the rotating presidency of the EU until the end of this year. Orbán said his meetings in Russia and China happened on his own initiative, separate from the EU. But he did use the EU president’s logo when reporting on the trip.

The Ministry of Justice said that during the informal council, “the first principles” for the Justice Agenda for the coming years will be set. “It is very important for the Netherlands that a strong rule of law and the protection of fundamental rights are firmly anchored in that.” Van Weel wants to “clearly convey” that message there. He’ll also speak with Hungarian NGOs and scientists who are fighting for a strong rule of law in Hungary.

Next week, there will also be an informal meeting of Health Ministers in Hungary. A spokesperson for Minister Fleur Agema of Public Health said she would not attend because she will be on leave.