Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has demanded financial compensation from the European Commission for Hungary’s border protection efforts, telling Ursula von der Leyen that Budapest has blocked over a million illegal migrants since 2015 but has been fined instead of supported by Brussels.
Estonian President Alar Karis urged EU leaders to engage in dialogue with Viktor Orbán rather than merely ‘label him’, suggesting that Hungary’s concerns over Ukraine’s EU bid must be taken seriously. His remarks mark a rare call for compromise within the bloc, as Budapest remains the sole veto blocking Kyiv’s accession.
A recent piece by The Wall Street Journal points out that right-wing populist parties are leading the polls in all three of the largest European economies: Marine Le Pen’s Rassemblement national in France, Nigel Farage’s Reform UK in the United Kingdom, and Alice Weidel’s Alternative für Deutschland in Germany. What is behind this phenomenon?
Western media suggest Viktor Orbán could ‘climb down’ from Hungary’s veto on Ukraine’s EU bid after alleged pressure from Donald Trump. Yet officials stress the call itself is disputed—and insist accession would drag an open war into the EU, a step Hungary refuses to take.
‘It should be kept in mind that Serbia’s close relations to Russia had been forged over centuries—through a shared Slavic heritage, Orthodox traditions, and mutual political support. This bilateral relationship has proven remarkably resilient in view of recent shifting geopolitical realities…Serbia’s close relations with Russia cannot simply be undone through external pressure.’
After the European Council meeting on the Alaska summit, Viktor Orbán argued that Brussels’ Ukraine strategy had collapsed—its isolation policy, battlefield expectations, and membership promises as security guarantee all failed. With Trump’s team eyeing Budapest as the venue for a potential Putin–Zelenskyy summit, Hungary’s influence in Europe could be significantly bolstered.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán vetoed an EU joint statement on the upcoming Trump–Putin summit in Alaska, breaking with the bloc’s 26 other members. While they welcomed Trump’s peace efforts, Orbán argued the EU should not set conditions for talks it was not invited to, urging instead an EU–Russia summit to ensure Europe’s voice in the process.
Veszprém, Hungary and the Bakony–Balaton Region have been named the Sports Region of Europe 2026 by ACES Europe. Known for its handball legacy and outdoor activities around Lake Balaton, the region was recognized for promoting healthy lifestyles and community sports, building on its 2023 title as European Capital of Culture.
What role has Tusványos played in strengthening Hungarian–Romanian dialogue? Can Szeklerland be granted autonomy? Is Hungary’s Ukraine policy justified? We spoke with the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Hungarian Parliament at the Tusványos Festival—which he helped found—in the heart of Transylvania.
The euro plunged to $1.1565 on 29 July, down 1.6 per cent since the US–EU trade deal was announced—despite Ursula von der Leyen calling it a ‘huge deal’. Markets, however, delivered their verdict: the agreement heavily favours Washington, leaving Europe with rising energy dependence and economic uncertainty.