Discussing the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent events, PM Orbán stated, "When we were just recovering from Covid, the war came, leading to a massive increase in energy prices. This was further exacerbated by the sanctions policy introduced by the European Commission, shooting inflation through the roof." He highlighted the continuous struggle since the outbreak of COVID-19, focusing on the nation's stability and the goal to reduce inflation significantly in the coming years.
PM Orbán’s stance on Ukraine’s EU membership negotiations at the Brussels summit was a focal point. Despite his initial resistance, he eventually chose not to participate in the decision-making process. He explained, "After failing to convince the other member states in an eight-hour debate that this was a bad decision, the question remained whether the twenty-six could force their will on Hungary. Our only response was not to participate in the decision."
Regarding the EU's migration policy, Orbán was critical: "The only solution to migration is to keep migrants outside until their entry requests are processed. If they enter the EU and wait here, then it's over; they stay." He expressed his government's intention to defy Brussels' directives that contradict Hungary's constitutional principles.
On the issue of financial support to Ukraine, PM Orbán was cautious, saying, "If we give fifty billion euros from the EU budget to Kyiv, it means giving away Hungarian money." He emphasized the need for transparency and fairness in the allocation of EU funds.
Prime Minister Orbán also reflected on the strained Hungarian-Ukrainian relations, primarily due to laws affecting the Hungarian minority in Ukraine. "Eight years of disenfranchisement for Hungarians in Transcarpathia, who have always lived there, started when Ukrainians revoked the law guaranteeing the survival of the Hungarian national community in 2015," he stated, advocating for Ukraine to address these issues.
Discussing domestic politics, PM Orbán highlighted the recently passed sovereignty law aimed at preventing foreign interference in Hungarian politics. "A national government, a country striving for sovereignty, can do nothing but close these loopholes and bolt the door. This is the purpose of the law," he explained.
Looking towards the future, the prime minister stressed the importance of reforming the EU. "We need to go deeper, occupy positions, gather allies, and fix the European Union. It's not enough to be angry; we need to take over Brussels," he asserted, indicating his vision for a reformed and more cohesive EU that aligns with the interests of its member states.