Former European Commission President José Manuel Barroso has warned that European Council President António Costa may need to consider excluding Hungary from sensitive EU discussions if it fails to adequately address allegations that it leaked details of EU meetings to Russia. claims that Budapest continues to deny.
Barroso stressed that such a move would be justified to uphold trust and “decent behaviour” among member states, noting that similar exclusions have occurred in the past. The issue comes amid growing tensions, as Hungary maintains its veto on major EU decisions, including a €90 billion loan to Ukraine, sanctions on Russia, and Ukraine’s EU accession process.
At the same time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that Kyiv may increasingly look beyond Europe for support, pointing to opportunities in the Middle East and Gulf region. This reflects frustration over ongoing EU gridlock, particularly Hungary’s obstruction.
Meanwhile, the EU–US trade deal, already criticised by some lawmakers as unbalanced due to tariff disparities, has cleared committee stage and now awaits a decisive plenary vote that will determine its next phase.
via Euronews
