According to the news portal Onet.pl, the decision stems from Hungary granting political asylum to Poland’s former Deputy Justice Minister Marcin Romanowski and Hungary’s broader actions, which Sobkowiak-Czarnecka told TVP Info have placed the country "on the margins of the European Union."
Poland also criticized Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for his visit to Moscow during Hungary’s EU presidency, calling it inconsistent with EU representation norms.
"We confirm that in light of recent actions by Budapest, the Hungarian ambassador is not expected to attend the opening gala. It is up to the Hungarian embassy to decide on representation at another level," Poland’s Foreign Ministry announced, according to Wp.pl.
Despite these diplomatic tensions, Sobkowiak-Czarnecka emphasized that Poland is ready to assume its presidency duties, with a focus on key priorities such as security and competitiveness.
Left – István Íjgyártó, Hungary's ambassador to Poland; right – Viktor Orbán, Hungary's Prime Minister; center – Marcin Romanowski, fugitive fleeing corruption charges. Photo: PAP/Jacek Bednarczyk; Gints Ivuskans/Shutterstock.com & policja.gov.pl
As previously reported by Radio Poland, the motto of Poland's EU Council presidency, which marks the beginning of a new institutional cycle for the European Union, is "Security, Europe!"
The official inauguration of Poland's leadership will take place at 8:00 PM on Friday, January 3, at the Grand Theatre-National Opera in Warsaw.
The event will feature a concert curated by composer Radzimir Dębski. The gala will open with speeches from Prime Minister Donald Tusk and European Council President António Costa.
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Source: PAP/Onet/Wp.pl/TVP Info/IAR
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