Following talks with Slovak counterpart Robert Fico in Budapest on Tuesday, PM Orbán said Hungary had experience in filling the EU presidency post, albeit “in less explosive times”.
“We have experience in representing national interests without harming the mediating role of the European Council president,” the prime minister said. The EU affairs ministers of Slovakia and Hungary will cooperate closely in the while Hungary is preparing for the role, he said. In connection with European Council President Charles Michel leaving his post to run in the EP elections, PM Orbán said neither he nor his ruling Fidesz party had any ambition to fill “any European post”. Asked about the EU summit set for Feb 1, PM Orbán said its agenda would focus on ways of further supporting Ukraine and the related modification of the common EU budget. PM Orbán said giving Ukraine 50 billion euros four years in advance would mean that resources the member states are entitled to would also land in Ukraine. Any financial instrument for aiding Ukraine should be set up outside the EU budget, he said. He agreed that Ukraine needed further help, but said further assistance “should not hurt the EU budget”. “Hungary does not want to take out a joint loan, but it is ready to provide its share from central budget resources. If Brussels accepts this proposal, Ukraine will receive help from outside the [EU] budget, but if not, I will need to stop the whole process,” PM Orbán said. Regarding amendments to the EU budget, “Hungary is ready to support all points that are important for Slovakia,” he said.