In a significant move, the European Commission has decided to boycott Hungary's six-month presidency of the EU Council in response to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's controversial trips to Moscow and Beijing. The trips were widely seen as a challenge to the bloc's political unity.

The decision came after Orbán's visits to Moscow and Beijing, where he met with President Vladimir Putin and praised President Xi Jinping's "Chinese peace plan." These trips drew criticism for their timing, the selection of countries, and the use of the Hungarian presidency's official logo, which fueled accusations of abuse of power and disloyalty.

The European Commission's chief spokesperson, Eric Mamer, announced on Monday evening that the commission would be represented at senior civil servant level only during informal meetings of the Council. This means that the College visit to the Presidency, a major event that marks the start of each rotating presidency, has been called off.

While the formal ministerial meetings in Brussels and Luxembourg will not be affected, the traditional visit of the College of Commissioners to mark the beginning of Hungary's presidency will not go ahead at any time. However, President Ursula von der Leyen might still attend the informal summit of EU leaders scheduled for November in Budapest.

The decision to boycott Hungary's presidency confirms the speculation about a coordinated boycott that has been circulating in Brussels. The plan, according to one diplomat, was to "make Orbán less visible." The European Commission's move aligns with the demands of a group of 63 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) led by Estonia's Riho Terras, who sent a letter requesting that Hungary be stripped of its voting rights under the Article 7 procedure as retaliation for Orbán's "abuses of power."

Hungary's Minister for EU Affairs, János Bóka, responded to the boycott by emphasizing Hungary's commitment to sincere cooperation and addressing common challenges. He questioned the European Commission's cherry-picking of institutions and member states it wants to cooperate with, suggesting that political considerations may be at play in their decision-making.

The boycott comes as Hungary's six-month presidency began on July 1st and is set to last until December 31st. The effects of this boycott on the EU's credibility and the current geopolitical situation remain to be seen.

This move by the European Commission highlights the tension within the EU regarding Orbán's controversial actions and raises questions about the future relationship between Hungary and the bloc.