Rob Jetten with Robert Habeck (2023)
The coalition agreement of the newly formed Dutch government explicitly refers to Hungary and Slovakia as countries that “actively undermine Europe” and threatens to withdraw their veto rights.
Slovak diplomacy considers this approach completely unacceptable. It regards it as clear interference in the internal affairs of the independent Slovak Republic. The official summons of the ambassador was issued on the direct instructions of Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár to the staff of his ministry. The Slovak side emphasized that it had already clearly expressed its reservations before the appointment of the Dutch minority government.
Bratislava had previously initiated an open dialogue on the controversial statements through official channels. However, according to the Slovak Foreign Ministry, the Dutch side did not respond to these requests at all. The objectionable insult, which Slovakia considers unfounded, thus unfortunately remained in the final coalition agreement. However, Slovakia continues to strive for good relations.
Juraj Blanár. Photo: MTI/KKM
In the opinion of the Slovak Foreign Ministry, however, future diplomatic relations must be based on mutual respect and equal partnership.
The Slovak government has made it clear that it does not need any external guardianship.
Every single EU member state has the indisputable right to protect its own national interests. This sovereign right must not be called into question by the threat of withdrawal of voting rights.
The Slovak Foreign Ministry considers the retention of the right of veto to be crucial for the common future of the European Union. It firmly believes that only this system can ensure that important issues are not decided exclusively by the major powers. Smaller European countries must also have a strong, sovereign voice. Bratislava remains open to objective dialogue with the Dutch leadership on the basis of partnership.
The Dutch coalition agreement specifically states the following:
We will take tough action against countries that actively undermine Europe, such as Hungary and Slovakia, by advocating in Europe for a simplification of the procedure under Article 7 so that countries can more easily be deprived of their voting rights.”
It is worth noting that the Netherlands is one of the biggest supporters of progressive NGOs in Slovakia and has thus long had a significant influence on Slovak domestic politics. It should also be remembered that a liberal minority government has been formed in the Netherlands under the leadership of 38-year-old Rob Jetten. The Dutch coalition is attempting to influence the fragile domestic political situation, to say the least, with ideological encroachments, comments the Hungarian-language news portal Körkép from Slovakia.
Another coalition goal is to ensure that Hungary loses its right to European funds. Furthermore, it states: “We are committed to abolishing unanimity in decisions on common foreign and security policy in Europe.”
Fact
“Young, younger, clueless” – this is how one could satirically describe the arrogant behavior of the Dutch quota government. The mountain laboured and gave birth to a mouse after 117 days. It was only after unusually long negotiations that King Willem-Alexander was able to swear in the colourful coalition of the liberal-progressive D66, the right-wing liberal VVD and the nominally “Christian Democratic” CDA. It is said that the coalition, which is on shaky ground due to its lack of a parliamentary majority, is “clearly pro-European,” which translates as pro-war or pro-Kiev, anti-farmer, and, of course, in favor of the hegemony of a core Europe that is increasingly displaying colonial behavior that was thought to be long outdated. No sooner had they taken office than the defense minister and foreign minister rushed to Kiev to pay their respects to Volodymyr Zelensky.
Meanwhile, a condescending attitude toward the rebellious V4 countries has become “good form” among the federalist-minded governments of Western Europe. Internal weakness is compensated for by ostentatious external strength. The political “teenage rebels” of the former colonial empire are demonstrating their determination at the expense of those who, at least according to the general perception of the mainstream media, are already down and out, namely Hungary and Slovakia. Hungarian diplomats presumably assume that the new Dutch cabinet will have even less time in office than the previous government led by Dick Schoof, which, despite the coalition participation of Geert Wilders’ PVV, an ally of Viktor Orbán, was keen to lecture Hungary on the protection of the rule of law and democracy. In July 2024, the then Minister of Justice and Internal Security, David van Weel, provided support for left-wing Hungarian NGOs, apparently a constant feature of Dutch foreign policy. Although the current government is clearly more coherent in ideological terms, naturally in a left-liberal sense, it is starting under extremely unfavorable circumstances.
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Via korkep.sk; Featured image: © European Union
The post New Left-wing Dutch Government Vows “Tough Action” Against Hungary and Slovakia appeared first on Hungary Today.
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