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Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto
Photo: KIMMO BRANDT / EPA
Hungary prevented EU foreign ministers from condemning the electoral reform in Hong Kong.
The country was the only member state to categorically oppose the project, several news agencies from EU circles learned.
As a result, the declaration could not be published as planned at the meeting of EU foreign ministers on Monday in Brussels.
As always in EU foreign policy, this would require a unanimous decision by the member states.
Chinese influence on EU countries
According to EU diplomats, one reason for Hungary's rejection of the declaration is that the country benefits greatly from investments from China.
Budapest argued, however, according to the information that the EU does not have to react to every single development in China.
The representation of Hungary to the EU could not be reached for a comment at first.
Against this background, EU representatives have been concerned for years that China is trying to extend its influence to member states in Eastern and Southern Europe through economic projects.
Through its “New Silk Roads” initiative, Beijing offers countries like Hungary support with expensive infrastructure projects.
As the first EU government, Budapest also decided in February to use corona vaccines from China that have not yet been approved in Europe.
Violation of the autonomy rights in Hong Kong
China's leadership finally passed the controversial electoral reform for Hong Kong at the end of March.
It gives Beijing control over the selection of candidates in parliamentary elections in Hong Kong and can exclude certain applicants.
EU representatives criticized the reform as a blatant violation of Hong Kong's autonomy rights.
So far, however, there has been no joint condemnation of the member states following the decision to reform.
The relationship between the EU and China has deteriorated significantly in the past few weeks.
Beijing responded with counter-sanctions after EU punitive measures against party and regional representatives in Xinjiang Province for cracking down on the Muslim Uyghur minority.
The aim was to MEPs and European scientists.
As a result, this week the EU put the European Parliament's ratification of the planned investment agreement with China on hold.
fek / ire / dpa / AFP
