EU to \u2018convey concerns\u2019 to US about Vance\u2019s Hungary intervention and accusations of interference<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n
The European Commission\u2019s spokespeople \u2013 three of them, no less \u2013 have reluctantly reacted to JD Vance\u2019s comments alleging the EU\u2019s unprecedented interference in the Hungarian elections.<\/strong><\/p>\n At first they insisted they wouldn\u2019t respond to his comments, even as they very <\/em>pointedly noted the context of his visit \u2013 just days before the vote on Sunday.<\/p>\n The commission\u2019s tech spokesperson Thomas Regnier <\/strong>somewhat mockingly said that \u201cwhat the European bureaucrats have been doing is [moving] to set out a strong framework to make sure that the elections remain in the hands of our citizens.\u201d<\/p>\n While his comments were seemingly about the regulation and use of social media platforms during election campaigns in Europe, it felt like there was a bit of an underlying message to the US VP, too.<\/p>\n But eventually, pushed a bit by several journalists, they went further, with the EU\u2019s foreign spokesperson Anitta Hipper<\/strong> saying:<\/p>\n \u201cWe have also our diplomatic channels and we will be using these also to convey our concerns to our US counterparts.<\/strong>\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Pressed further on what the nature of the concerns was, however, she said the EU was \u201cnot in the business of disclosing what we talk about with our partners.\u201d<\/p>\n The commission\u2019s deputy chief spokesperson Arianna Podest\u00e0<\/strong> added:<\/p>\n \u201cWe have appropriate channels, appropriate frameworks, diplomatic contacts, [and] the joint statement. That is a framework in which we discuss matters of relevance with our partners.<\/strong> And that is where we will be bringing the discussions with the United States if they consider it something worthwhile pursuing with us.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
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