Draghi proposes that the EU’s priorities should include the lowering of energy prices, increasing competitiveness, proper governance of industrial policy, and increased defence spending. The EU should no longer rely on others to maintain its security, he argues, since continuing to do so would make it more vulnerable.
György Károlyi highlighted in an interview with French right-wing website Boulevard Voltaire the absurdity of the ECJ fine, adding that in his opinion, the leaders of the European Union ‘still do not understand that a country cannot be bought with money.’
‘If Hungary does not receive more oil from Russia, we will simply not survive; we will not be able to supply the country,’ Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó emphasized in an interview with the Russian TV channel RBK. The minister stressed that currently, there is no alternative route capable of supplying Hungary with sufficient oil other than the pipeline that runs through Ukraine.
The prospect of Hungary complying with the ECJ ruling appears increasingly unlikely, as the government shows no sign of relenting. In fact, the issue may escalate into a broader political confrontation.
‘Most wishing to migrate to the U.S. are seeking a better life, contrary to the regional violence, corruption, and economic devastation in their home countries. If U.S. and Central American governments are able to institutionalize a ‘Marshall Plan’ as Washington had done for Europe after World War II, then perhaps a workable solution is possible. However, the U.S. needs to take the lead in this, though it would be unable to do so long as members of both Democratic and Republican Parties continue to childishly bicker with one another.’
According to Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak, Kyiv plans to shut down the Druzhba oil pipeline starting from 1 January 2025. This pipeline is a key route through which Russian oil reaches Europe, including Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. Hungarian oil and gas company MOL stated that it has not been informed of this decision and that transport is currently running smoothly. Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó has assured that Hungary’s energy supply remains secure.
Ukraine’s decision not to renew its contract with Gazprom has raised concerns in many about how Russian gas will reach Europe in the future. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated that Russia could still meet European customers’ needs through the Turkish Stream pipeline, but at a higher cost than before. This latest move by Ukraine poses yet another threat to Hungary’s energy security.
The Socialist Sánchez government in Spain vetoed the Hungarian consortium Ganz-MÁVAG Europe’s acquisition of the Spanish train manufacturer Talgo. Their concern was the supposed close ties between Budapest and Moscow, fearing that the Hungarian company may share trade secrets with the Russians.
Hungarian Minister of Agriculture István Nagy will open this year’s international non-GMO summit in Frankfurt. The focus of this year’s conference will be on the political debate surrounding new genomic techniques (NGTs).
The Nézőpont Institute’s survey found that 69 per cent of Hungarians consider Ukraine’s imposed sanctions unacceptable, and only 22 per cent perceive them as acceptable. Strong disapproval of Kyiv’s move seems to be a sentiment shared across party lines in Hungary.
Hungarian Conservative is a quarterly magazine on contemporary political, philosophical and cultural issues from a conservative perspective.
