Addressing the EU’s current challenges, he highlighted that "the migration crisis, which has escalated since 2015, coupled with severe security risks, now endangers the very existence of the Schengen Area." He emphasized that the EU must act swiftly and decisively to avoid this potential collapse.
PM Orbán's speech revolved around the priorities of Hungary’s rotating EU presidency, which aims to address these critical issues while maintaining constructive cooperation with other member states. "The Hungarian presidency will act as an honest broker and pursue constructive collaboration with all member states and institutions," he stated. However, he was firm that Hungary would defend the Council's treaty-based powers.
"The Hungarian presidency will protect the Council’s rights, particularly in areas such as institutional agreements between the European Parliament and the European Commission,” the PM said.
Reflecting on his experience from Hungary’s first EU presidency in 2011, Prime Minister Orbán pointed out that while the Union faced crises back then, such as the aftermath of the financial crisis and the Arab Spring, today's challenges are far more severe. "In 2011, we dealt with the consequences of the financial crisis, the Arab Spring, and even the Fukushima disaster. But today, the situation is much more serious, perhaps more than ever in the history of the Union," he warned.
One of the most pressing issues, according to the prime minister, is the war in Ukraine, which he described as a European conflict with escalating consequences. "There is a war raging in Ukraine, and this has ripple effects throughout Europe. Severe conflicts are also affecting the Middle East and Africa, all of which carry the risk of further escalation," he said. He linked these geopolitical tensions directly to the migration crisis, stating, "The migration crisis has now reached levels not seen since 2015, with illegal migration and security threats potentially leading to the collapse of the Schengen Area."
PM Orbán also referenced concerns raised by influential European leaders about the EU's global competitiveness. He cited former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi, who has warned that Europe faces a "slow agony" due to its decreasing competitiveness, while also echoing French President Emmanuel Macron’s concerns: "President Macron has said that Europe may die within two or three years as it is being pushed out of its markets."
These quotes, he argued, underscore that the EU stands at a crossroads where critical decisions must be made about its future.
In his address, Prime Minister Orbán provided an overview of Hungary's progress during its EU presidency, mentioning that his government had led 585 Council working group meetings, chaired 24 ambassadorial meetings, and organized 69 official and 92 informal presidency events.
"We’ve welcomed over 10,000 guests at our events in Hungary, and the Council’s legislative work is progressing at full speed," PM Orbán reported. He also confirmed that Hungary is ready to engage in trilogue negotiations with the European Parliament, citing 41 legislative dossiers pending cooperation.
Touching on economic issues, PM Orbán stressed the importance of addressing Europe’s diminishing global competitiveness. "The EU’s economic growth has consistently lagged behind that of the United States and China for the past two decades. Our productivity is growing slower than that of our competitors, and our share of global trade is shrinking."
He noted that European companies face significantly higher energy costs compared to the U.S., with electricity prices two to three times higher and gas prices four to five times higher. "The consequences of disconnecting from Russian energy have led to a significant loss in GDP and required massive financial reallocations to build the infrastructure needed for liquefied natural gas imports," PM Orbán explained. He emphasized that in energy-intensive industries, which are vital to the European economy, production has already dropped by 10 percent to 15 percent.
Prime Minister Orbán also touched on Europe’s energy future, warning against the illusion that renewable energy alone will solve the continent’s energy problems. "Even if we meet all our renewable energy goals, fossil fuels will still determine energy prices for many years to come, at least until 2030," he said, urging European leaders to confront this reality.
He also voiced concerns about the European Green Deal, stating, "The goal was to create green jobs, but in reality, deindustrialization has led to job losses."
Turning to migration, PM Orbán reaffirmed Hungary’s long-standing position that protecting the EU’s external borders is essential. "Europe has been under migration pressure for years, especially on its external borders, and the Union must defend these borders. Hungary has fought political battles on this issue since 2015, and we’ve seen countless initiatives and proposals—all of which have failed because they lacked one key element: external hotspots. Without these, we cannot protect Europeans from illegal migration," he argued.
He also criticized the EU’s asylum system, stating, "The EU’s asylum system is not working. Illegal migration has increased antisemitism, violence against women, and homophobia in Europe. These are the facts, whether we like them or not."
Prime Minister Orbán proposed regular Schengen Summits, where EU heads of state and government could meet to discuss Schengen-related issues, similar to the Eurozone summits that were institutionalized after the 2008 financial crisis. "We need a similar political commitment to address the Schengen Area’s current crisis, and this can only be achieved through high-level political engagement," he urged.
In addition to migration, the prime minister also discussed the enlargement of the Schengen Area, advocating for the inclusion of Bulgaria and Romania. "The Hungarian presidency also proposes that Bulgaria and Romania be fully admitted to the Schengen Area by the end of the year," he said.
PM Orbán concluded his speech by emphasizing Hungary’s broader goals for its EU presidency, particularly focusing on economic competitiveness and migration. He reaffirmed his belief in a strong, secure Europe and Hungary’s role in achieving that vision. "Our Union must change. Hungary is here to be the voice of that change and to be a catalyst for it," he declared, calling for pragmatic solutions to Europe’s crises.
"We Hungarians are part of the European Union not for what it is, but for what it could be. As long as we see even the slightest chance to help Europe become what it can be, we will continue to fight for it," he concluded. "Our presidency’s success will be the Union’s success. Let’s make Europe great again."