‘There is no chance of reaching an agreement among the leaders of European Union member states on migration,’ said Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Friday in Granada, as he arrived for a meeting of EU member state heads of state and government.
He added that this is politically impossible because they had previously agreed to make unanimous decisions on the regulation of migration. However, this has recently changed, and the package was pushed through, bypassing Hungary and Poland and ‘legally forcing’ the document through.
After this, there is no chance of compromise or agreement, not only now but for years to come, the PM stressed.
Regarding EU enlargement, he stated that Hungary supports and encourages the process, but many member states cite enlargement fatigue, which is not fair to those waiting for membership. The EU needs new member states, he emphasized, underscoring Hungarian support of Georgia’s accession. He noted that officials of the two governments will hold a joint government meeting in Tbilisi next week.
However, when it comes to Ukraine’s accession to the EU, a strategic review is needed because a country at war has never been admitted to the Union before. According to the Hungarian PM, there are still ‘too many questions’ that remain open, and first, the strategic fundamentals need to be clarified.
‘We need to understand why it’s good for the EU to admit Ukraine, what the consequences are, how much money we are talking about,’
he listed. Ukraine’s accession raises new questions not only about security but also in areas such as cohesion policy and agriculture. With Ukraine’s accession, a ‘completely new agriculture’ will emerge in the EU, he said.
Responding to journalists’ questions, Orbán also addressed energy-related topics. He stated that Azerbaijan is a key country, and without it, achieving energy independence from Russia is not possible. Hungary already has an agreement with Baku on gas supplies, he reminded. He also emphasized that the Southern Gas Corridor is vital for Hungary, especially after the damage caused by the Northern terrorist attack. Therefore, particular attention must be paid to ensuring the security of the Southern Corridor.
Regarding the tensions between Kosovo and Serbia, Orbán pointed out that Pristina needs to change its attitude because it has regularly provoked the Serbs over the past two years. Provocation disrupts stability, and stability is not possible without Serbia. Viktor Orbán declared that the idea of imposing sanctions on Belgrade is an ‘impossible and ridiculous’ proposal.
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Sources: Hungarian Conservative/MTI
