Hungary

Authorities have already had to slaughter thousands of cattle and strict measures to control the epidemic are in place in both countries.

Attending a banned event will carry fines up to about €500, and authorities will be able to use facial recognition tools to identify attendees.

“There is always an empire that is trying to take away the freedom of the Hungarians, and right now it is the one in Brussels,” Viktor Orban claimed.

The clock for renewal was ticking fast as sanctions on Russian individuals and companies were set to expire by midnight on Saturday.

Hungary’s resistance has put the EU in a situation of maximum suspense less than 72 hours before the individual sanctions are set to expire.

The proposed amendment of the Hungarian constitution could result in the expulsion of Hungarians who hold nationalities from other countries if the government sees them as a danger to sovereignty.

The Hungarian government has asked the EU to refrain from any new initiatives that could undermine the Trump-led negotiations.

The AfD is polling in second place ahead of Germany’s elections scheduled for 23 February. However, all other parties have ruled out entering into a coalition with it.

The EU will be able to renew its sectoral sanctions against Russia after Hungary abandoned its veto threat, which it had linked to energy concerns.

With a key deadline set to expire next week, Viktor Orbán and his deputies have raised the spectre of vetoing EU sanctions against Russia, a move which would upend the bloc’s foreign policy.