The countries of Poland and Hungary, that previously used to be close associates within the European Union, have been experiencing their major diplomatic crisis over the last couple of years. The situation has led the two countries, formerly allies that helped each other on various issues, to engage in a fight over EU policies and support for Ukraine.
This has rendered the Poland-Hungary EU relations very sour in the recent past. On Friday, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski fired off tart comments at Viktor Orbán, the Prime Minister of Hungary. Sikorski stated that Orban had made Hungary the poorest country in Europe, that he was plotting with Russian president Vladimir Putin to subvert the European Union.
This EU conflict between Poland and Hungary began following an interview by Orbán claiming that Hungary had been transformed to be the opposite of what the EU desired, according to TVP World News. He even hinted that Hungary could quit the EU in case the membership ceased to make sense to his country. Nonetheless, he added that Hungary has not arrived there yet.
The words of Poland attracted responses from the Foreign Minister of Hungary, Szijjártó. According to him, Sikorski had discarded his common sense for war-mongering. This was most probably about the fact that Poland was majorly supporting the war Ukraine was fighting against Russia.
The friendship between Poland and Hungary in the EU has transformed totally, as Poland gets a new government in 2023. Before this, both countries usually did not agree with EU regulations regarding democracy, LGBTQ+ rights, and media freedom when Poland had its nationalist government. Today, Poland is a more pro-EU country, whereas Hungary remains its enemy.
Poland-Hungary EU Diplomatic Relations Reach Breaking Point
The EU crisis between Poland and Hungary escalated after Hungary granted political asylum to a former official in the Polish government. By the Polish government, Marcin Romanowski, former deputy justice minister in the earlier government, was wished by the government as he was suspected of misappropriating the money of the people. Hungary covered him, and Poland felt angry.
In December, Poland recalled its ambassador to Hungary and terminated his employment officially this week. But according to Polish authorities, that is merely a rotation thing, and there is nothing to show that they intend to cripple Poland-Hungary EU relations permanently.
The attack of Russia on Ukraine in February 2022 has been troubling the EU because of Hungary. The government of Orbán often rejects the EU plans of delivering weapons to Ukraine and imposing sanctions on Russia. This is extremely frustrating to other EU countries, in particular Poland.
