PM Orbán opened his speech by outlining Hungary's primary goal for its EU presidency: to bolster competitiveness across Europe. He announced plans for a "Competitiveness Pact" with EU member states, set to be discussed in November. The prime minister identified two main challenges hindering the EU: the war in Ukraine and growing migration pressures. He expressed concern that these two crises are unraveling the Union.
To address competitiveness, PM Orbán pinpointed three key areas for improvement: first, revisiting the EU’s Green Deal, which he criticized as conflicting with business logic; second, reducing bureaucracy across the bloc; and third, creating a more attractive investment environment.
"European companies are increasingly investing outside the Union," he warned, suggesting that this trend must be reversed if the EU is to remain competitive.
On the sensitive issue of migration, the prime minister called for greater respect for national sovereignty in managing migration policies. He emphasized that migration has become a “disintegrating force” within the EU, questioning why the bloc insists on a unified approach to such a divisive issue.
“Why not give opt-out options for countries that don’t want to follow common migration policies?” he asked, adding that migration should be left to the discretion of individual nations: “If Italy or other countries want to live with migrants, they should be able to do so. But for Hungary, we consider it too risky due to concerns about terrorism, public safety, and social burdens."
PM Orbán further criticized Brussels for forcing decisions on member states: “Why should Brussels decide whether a country needs migration or not? This is not a question that should be answered for everyone in a one-size-fits-all manner."
On the topic of the Russia-Ukraine war, the prime minister drew from Hungary’s experience during the Yugoslav Wars, emphasizing the dangers of living next to a conflict zone. He argued that waiting for a comprehensive peace plan that both sides can agree on is unrealistic. "The first step is not a peace plan," he said, "the first step is a ceasefire."
Prime Minister Orbán underscored that successful peace negotiations are usually preceded by multiple ceasefires, citing the historical ratio of ceasefires to peace plans as three-to-one. “First, we need communication, then a ceasefire, and only after that can we begin discussing peace plans,” he outlined, stressing that without dialogue, war will continue indefinitely. This sequence, he said, is the only realistic approach.
"If we wait for both sides to agree on a peace plan, there will never be peace," he explained.
PM Orbán also highlighted his own diplomatic efforts, explaining how his visits to Kyiv, Moscow, Beijing, and Washington were aimed at assessing the potential for peace. He shared his conclusion that neither Ukraine nor Russia is currently open to peace, as both sides believe that time is on their side. “We need to create an international context that convinces both sides—and the world—that a ceasefire is necessary," he said, adding that global pressure for a ceasefire is building.
PM Orbán’s speech at the Ambrosetti Forum underscored Hungary’s twin priorities: strengthening economic competitiveness in the EU and fostering an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine. He also cautioned against a political union that might suffocate competitiveness and emphasized the need for national sovereignty on key issues like migration.
"A political union kills the EU from a competitiveness standpoint. What we need is cooperation in the defense sector, not in areas where there is no consensus, such as migration or social issues,” he said.
In the face of ongoing conflicts and economic uncertainty, the prime minister’s vision calls for pragmatic cooperation and swift action to preserve both national and European interests.