No Budapest: EU Changes Rules Over Risk Of Leaks To Kremlin

Europeans are increasingly excluding Hungary from sensitive discussions.

European Union countries are increasingly bypassing Hungary when discussing sensitive issues, preferring narrow consultation formats instead of full-scale meetings with the participation of all EU members.

As Politico reports with reference to European diplomats and officials, such measures are related to fears of leaking confidential information from Budapest to Moscow. The reason for the increased caution was new suspicions of possible transfer of details of closed discussions to the Russian side.

The Washington Post wrote earlier that Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó allegedly regularly shared information about EU talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Budapest denies the allegations.

Sources say the EU is increasingly using informal cooperation formats - such as the E3, E4, NB8, Weimar Triangle and other coalitions. In them, it is easier and faster to agree on positions, while reducing the risk of leaks and excluding Hungary's involvement. Politico's interlocutors note that much of the real diplomatic work now takes place in such groups.

In particular, the Weimar Triangle unites France, Germany and Poland, the NB8 includes eight Nordic and Baltic countries, and the JEF includes ten Northern European states. The E3 format traditionally covers the UK, France and Germany.

The former Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said that as early as 2024, diplomats were warned about the risks of information transfer by the Hungarian side. According to him, at meetings with Peter Szijjarto, he and his colleagues deliberately limited the amount of data discussed.

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