Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has declared that his government will not support the new seven-year EU budget until Brussels unblocks all suspended European funds for Hungary.
Demands for Frozen Funds and Critique of Proposed Budget
Orbán has had frequent clashes with Brussels for the past 15 years over migration policy and LGBTQ+ rights, and has been accused of undermining democracy. In response, the EU has withheld billions of euros in aid to Hungary.
“The adoption of a new seven-year budget requires unanimous approval, and until we receive the remaining (frozen) funds, there will be no new budget,” Orbán said during a speech at a university in the Romanian city of Baile Tušnad.
The European Commission recently proposed a two trillion euro budget for 2028-2034, with a focus on defense and economic competitiveness.
Orbán had previously criticized the proposal, telling Hungarian state radio, “This budget would destroy the European Union. I don’t believe such a budget will last until next year.”
Accusations Against Brussels and Support for Ukraine
During his speech, Orbán also criticized the EU for supporting Ukraine and accused Brussels of wanting to install a “pro-Ukrainian and pro-Brussels government” in Hungary in next year’s elections. He claimed that the current EU leadership is leading the bloc toward a trade war that Europe “cannot win.”
He reiterated accusations that “globalist bureaucrats” want to funnel money from Europe to Ukraine, stating that the new seven-year budget includes both open and hidden funds for Ukraine’s EU accession process, despite no official decision on its membership having been made yet. Orbán also condemned planned cuts to the agricultural sector, questioning whether this would mean millions of farmers across Europe would be abandoned.
