Orban insists EU needs change, promises to be a constructive broker

MEPs discussed Hungary’s priorities for its six-month Council Presidency, with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said that the Hungarian Presidency coincides with key EU efforts, including supporting Ukraine, enhancing European competitiveness, and fostering stability. She emphasised the Parliament’s role in upholding democracy, rule of law, and freedom of expression, where differing views are shared respectfully.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stressed that the EU needs change, with his Presidency aiming to be a catalyst. He highlighted serious challenges, including the war in Ukraine, migration, and Europe’s waning competitiveness. Orbán pledged Hungary would be a constructive broker, ready to address pending legislative files, and stressed the need to tackle high energy prices and slow economic growth, warning that the green transition alone won’t resolve these issues.

He highlighted competitiveness as a key issue for the Presidency, noting that the EU’s economic growth in the last two decades has been significantly lower than in China and US, with the EU’s share of global trade also decreasing. Pointing to energy prices as a key obstacle, Mr Orbán said that “as a result of moving away from Russian energy sources, the EU has lost significant GDP growth”. “We should not fall into the illusion that the green transition in itself offers a solution to the problem,” he argued, adding that decarbonisation has led to slowing down of productivity and the loss of jobs.

On migration, Mr Orbán warned that “without external hotspots we cannot protect Europeans from illegal migration”. “The EU asylum system is simply not working. Illegal migration has led to increasing anti-semitism, violence against women and homophobia,” he claimed. He proposed holding regular “Schengen summits”, and insisted that Bulgaria and Romania should become full members of the free-movement area by the end of the year.

On enlargement, Mr Orbán called for accelerating the accession of the Western Balkan countries and stressed that “without Serbia joining, we cannot stabilise the Balkans”.

The Hungarian Prime Minister argued for an EU defence industry, a farmer-friendly, competitive agriculture sector, and for the importance of the EU cohesion policy. “Cohesion funds are not charity nor a donation, it is one of the biggest forms of investment policy in the EU, and it is a pre-requisite to balance out the single market,” he said.

Response by the European Commission President

Replying to Prime Minister Orbán, Ms von der Leyen affirmed the EU’s commitment to support Hungary after the recent floods and outlined three key priorities: Ukraine, competitiveness, and migration. She criticised Hungary’s stance on Russia, deploring that “one member state in particular” is still trying to buy fossil fuels from Russia despite the EU’s commitment to be energy independent. On migration, she condemned Hungary’s decision to release convicted smugglers and questioned its visa policies, such as inviting Russian nationals into the EU without additional checks, warning these “make Hungary a security risk, not only for Hungary but for all member states.” Emphasising the country’s potential within the EU, she urged it to “serve the cause of European unity” rather than diverging from shared values