Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán delivered a speech on 12 May in the Hungarian Parliament at the Conference of Presidents of the European Union Parliaments. In his address, Orbán declared that ‘nobody dares to say it’, but the war in Ukraine ‘is lost’.
He argued that the EU’s approach to the war and the imposition of energy sanctions has backfired—undermining the bloc’s economic competitiveness and deepening internal divisions.
On the subject of Ukraine’s potential accession to the EU, the prime minister warned that continued support for the ongoing conflict would only exacerbate the crisis. He contended that Brussels’ proposal to mandate energy decoupling from Russia would devastate Hungary’s economy. ‘Brussels cannot want to destroy Hungarian families,’ he said, emphasizing that peace and an end to sanctions are necessary to stabilize Europe.
A Strategic Reset Needed
Calling for a strategic reset amid global upheavals and mounting internal challenges, Prime Minister Orbán asserted that the survival of the European Union depends on restoring the role and authority of national parliaments.
‘The world is being transformed on a scale comparable only to the birth of the modern nation-state,’ he declared, observing that Western political norms are in flux and global power dynamics are shifting rapidly. Referencing the rise of China, the emergence of India, and changing strategic priorities in the United States, Orbán argued that Europe has failed to adapt. ‘We are trying to solve tomorrow’s problems with yesterday’s answers,’ he said.
‘We are trying to solve tomorrow’s problems with yesterday’s answers’
At the heart of his speech was a call to reinvigorate the concept of the nation-state. Orbán maintained that Europe’s strength has historically stemmed from its sovereign nations, each supported by strong national parliaments. He asserted that the European Union owes its achievements not to Brussels-based institutions but to the national frameworks of its member states.
‘The EU must give more respect to national parliaments,’ he said. ‘They are not artificial constructs created by treaty, but the organic embodiment of democratic legitimacy.’
‘Europe is rich but weak’
Prime Minister Orbán accused EU institutions of attempting to centralize power at the expense of member states, citing repeated efforts to override national sovereignty. He referenced attempts to unseat Hungary’s government and the withholding of EU funds as examples of political coercion. ‘Brussels wants to impose puppet governments loyal to its own interests,’ he warned. ‘But Hungary has resisted and will continue to resist.’
In conclusion, Orbán urged European leaders to change course. ‘Europe is rich but weak, and this is the most dangerous combination,’ he warned. ‘Only strong nation-states and respected national parliaments can restore the continent’s strength and credibility.’
The conference was organized in Budapest as part of the follow-up to Hungary’s EU Presidency, which took place from July to December 2024. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola also addressed the gathering, emphasizing the importance of unity among EU member states. ‘Europe is as much about Budapest as it is about Brussels, Strasbourg, Riga, or Dublin,’ she stated.
‘Europe works best when it works together,’ Metsola added. ‘The future of our common continent is not determined solely in Europe or in nation-states, but depends on how we can all work better together.’
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