After years of disputes, Hungary’s and Poland’s government suddenly decided to switch to pragmatic relations with the European Commision, Thomas Gutschker writes in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

In his op-ed, Gutscher explains why Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and “Poland’s strongman”, Jaroslaw Kaczynski – the head of the ruling Law and Justice party – have changed their minds. He reminds that both governments have “almost exuberantly celebrated” the election of Ursula von der Leyen, whose nomination they have supported. This constellation is a political chance to get Poland and Hungary out of the self-imposed isolation, he writes.

Their goal is to “detoxify” relations with Brussels, Orban’s apparently ready to discuss “pragmatic solutions” to migration after meeting von der Leyen and Warsaw seems to be open to join EPPO. Their commission-designates also show constructivity. Warsaw nominated Krzysztof Szczerski, President Andrzej Duda’s head of cabinet, while Budapest sends former minister of justice and ambassador to Paris, Laszlo Trocsanyi to Brussels.

According to Gutschker, the main reason behind this new tone is that EU members will soon negotiate the next financial framework, so these those countries don’t want to be on the losing side.

Source: Hungary Journal
Photo: MTI