PM Orban in Major Diplomatic Operation in Bucharest

Viktor Orban engaged in a major diplomatic operation in Bucharest. Hungary's prime minister held talks with his Romanian counterpart Marcel Ciolacu and attended a quintuple preparatory meeting on the EU strategic agenda 2024-2029.

The photo released by the Hungarian Prime Minister's Press Office features European Council Secretary General Therese Blanchet, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, European Council President Charles Michel, Romanian President Klaus Johannis, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (from left to right) at the preparatory meeting of the EU strategic agenda 2024-2029 at the Cotroceni Palace, the president's residence in Bucharest, on April 3, 2024 (Photo: MTI/Hungarian PM's Press Office/Zoltan Fischer)

Before the mini-summit, Romanian President Klaus Johannis held a face-to-face discussion with Charles Michel. The two of them were the hosts of the preparatory working meeting on the strategic agenda in Bucharest. At a press conference following the bilateral meeting, the European Council's president congratulated President Johannis on Romania's partial accession to Schengen, Agerpres reported. Romania and Bulgaria joined the Schengen area on air and sea routes on March 31. 

According to Romanian press reports, during the informal working meeting held with the participation of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo,  Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, the Romanian head of state and the European Council president, nominations for the top NATO position may have been also touched on alongside EU issues. As is known,

Hungary is opposed to the Dutch prime minister succeeding Jens Stoltenberg, and the security organization makes the decision on the post of secretary general by consensus among member states.

In Brussels on Wednesday, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto emphasized that 

no central or eastern European member country has delegated a secretary general to NATO in its entire history, therefore it would be high time, with special regard to the fact that the main security challenge comes from that direction.

The foreign ministry's statement quoted Szijjarto as reiterating the Hungarian government’s inability to endorse Mark Rutte, who had earlier spoken about bringing Hungary to its knees. Hungary's foreign minister said some member states were hesitant, and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis’s nomination has created a new situation in this regard.

The photo released by the Hungarian Prime Minister's Press Office features European Council Secretary General Therese Blanchet, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, European Council President Charles Michel, Romanian President Klaus Johannis, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (from left to right) at the preparatory meeting of the EU strategic agenda 2024-2029 at the Cotroceni Palace, the president's residence in Bucharest, on April 3, 2024 (Photo: MTI/Hungarian PM's Press Office/Zoltan Fischer)