Speaking at the 12th Conference of Speakers of Parliament of Southeast European Countries in Budapest, the prime minister emphasized that Europe is in trouble, and before common solutions can be found, there must be agreement on the nature of these problems.
According to Prime Minister Orbán, the troubles stem from a shift in the global power structure, marking the end of the liberal order era in the Western world. He explained that during this era, international institutions and NGOs exerted influence rivaling that of states, causing national sovereignty to diminish. Now, he argued, the era of patriot states and ideas surrounding a Europe of nations has begun.
Prime Minister Orbán noted that U.S. President Trump has disrupted established transatlantic relations, which were previously based on liberal-progressive values. The U.S. now prioritizes bilateral agreements based on interests rather than values, treating Europe as a competitor rather than a partner, especially concerning the euro's impact on the dollar. The prime minister stressed that while Hungary welcomes a force that opposes a more federalized EU, it is crucial not to weaken transatlantic security cooperation or European unity.
He argued that federalism weakens Europe, while increasing the sovereignty of member states strengthens it. He stated, "It is not in our interest to weaken the European Union, and it is certainly not in our interest for it to fall apart; it is in our interest to maintain and strengthen the European Union on a national sovereigntist basis."
PM Orbán thus advocated for placing economic questions at the forefront and abandoning political union ambitions while maintaining mutually beneficial economic cooperation.
Regarding the war in Ukraine, Prime Minister Orbán diverged from the EU majority, arguing that the strategy that Ukraine can win on the front line is mistaken. Instead, he urged the creation of a new European security system that includes Russia, establishing a military balance of power and security for all participating countries. He emphasized that this system should also include agreements to prevent an arms race, stating, "We must stop at a certain level of strengthening our own forces, and from there on, we must prevent our economic resources from transferring to the military sector with arms limitation agreements."
PM Orbán also warned of a severe economic crisis in Europe driven by energy costs, noting that European energy prices are three to four times higher than those of competitors China and the United States. He agreed with the Draghi report, stating that if Europe does not take rapid action to reduce energy prices, the economy will face its most serious crisis. The prime minister underscored the need for cheap energy, asserting that whether the energy is Russian or not is secondary, as the primary goal is to prevent the collapse of energy-intensive industrial sectors.
Finally, Prime Minister Orbán observed that the EU expansion perspective is narrowing due to the continued war in Ukraine. While encouraging Western Balkan nations not to give up their European ambitions, he advised them to prepare national development strategies based on the reality that they may remain outside the EU for a very long time, reaffirming that Hungary will provide support whether they join or not.