With concerns over the actions of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Solana raised questions about Hungary's EU credentials if it were currently applying for membership, saying the government was engaging in a process of "internal involution".
Yeah, Hungary, no place in the EU for exerting your own sovereignty & democratic will…. https://t.co/qnczuv0R0N
— Hartfordwolf (@hartfordwolf) May 5, 2016
"With the reform of the Constitution of 2013 some of the mechanisms that limited government action on key issues were eliminated," Solana wrote in an opinion piece for Spanish newspaper El Pais.
"Also, a state council was established with members of the party itself, to regulate the media. It has been said that if today asked Hungary for membership in the European Union, would be rejected."
'An Epidemic of Nationalism'
Along with Hungary, Solana also highlighted concerns he held about the direction of the government in Poland, saying an "epidemic of nationalism" had developed in the countries.
"Unfortunately, the epidemic of nationalism and anti-European sentiment has also reached these countries in Eastern Europe. Although there are many causes and countries are not easily comparable, there are two clear trends: the rise of nationalism and the decline of the rule of law."
Instead of trying to cooperate within the EU to get their voices heard, Solana said Poland and Hungary were trying to "present European policies as challenges to their true national identity".
Both countries have become increasingly at odds with EU states in recent times due to changes made to media and court reform, amid growing concerns the governments are weakening democracy in their respective countries.
The countries have also rejected Brussels' plans for a refugee quota system as part of efforts aimed at managing the migration crisis.
Solana said Orban's Fidesz party in Hungary, and Poland's ruling Law and Justice Party (PiS) were "eroding the democratic system and the rule of law," while implementing policies that "concentrate power in the executive" and eliminate "controls and criticism".
Solana was NATO secretary-general between 1995-1999, before moving to become the EU's high representative for common foreign and security policy from 1999 until 2009.
