New dispute in the European Union over migration slows down the planned closer cooperation with North African and Arab states. Hungary has blocked a common EU position before a foreign ministers‘ meeting with the Arab League on Monday, Brussels said today. In the circle of other EU countries, Hungary has triggered fierce criticism.
„On Friday, we witnessed a diplomatic massacre in Hungary,“ said an EU diplomat at dpa. „The Hungarian government has even rejected far-reaching compromise proposals for ideological reasons and isolated itself with this blockade in the EU circle.“ Another diplomat confirmed the blockade of Hungary.
In-depth cooperation planned
The meeting was to prepare a summit of both sides at the end of February in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. The EU also hopes for closer political and economic cooperation and progress against illegal migration across the Mediterranean. Hungary, however, reportedly made preparations for possible cooperation on migration issues during preparations in the circle of EU countries.
„The Hungarian government has to ask itself what it has to do to make it harder to deepen EU cooperation with the Arab League,“ said the EU diplomat. „Especially in the fight against illegal migration flows across the Mediterranean, as demanded by Hungary, nothing works without the Arab states.“
