"For many international politicians and journalists, that was the main message about the state of the EU [..] whether you like it or not, the vote was divided," said Zīle appearing on Latvian Television September 14.
"And in truth the representative of the Dutch Greens [MEP Judith Sargentini] who authored the report said that its adoption is not a message to the Hungarian government, but rather to other countries which should muster up the strength to punish them. I don't know if such an approach is any good," said Zīle.
Zīle also used the interview to say that the EU needs a new vision on cooperation with its neighbors. He criticized Jean-Claude Juncker, saying that he is at fault for the lack of EU political impact.
MEP Roberts Zīle was one of the two Latvian MEPs (Latvia has eight) to vote against the call to initiate unprecedented disciplinary action against Hungary.
Indeed, Zīle's position was only shared by Iveta Grigule, a MEP who was for a while allied with the anti-EU British UKIP party in the European Pariament but is now allied with the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats. Grigule is also known for campaigning against Latvia's adoption of the euro.
