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More than 2 million have returned questionnaires on Ukraine's accession to EU

Budapest Times

4 days ago

Politics
Budapest Times

Orbán: We are not giving up on any of the goals we have set for 2025

The prime minister said in his regular weekly radio interview that the European economy as a whole was stagnant, and as a member of the European Union, Hungary was a part of that economy. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán told Kossuth Radio that he does not want to give up on 'any of the goals we have set for 2025', adding that though his government had been aware of the expected GDP growth rate, parliament had still passed 'the biggest tax cut in Europe'. Asked why first-quarter GDP growth was under expectations, PM Orbán said in his regular weekly radio interview that the European economy as a whole was stagnant, and as a member of the European Union, Hungary was a part of that economy. PM Orbán noted that Austria's growth rate was even lower than Hungary's, 'but the Germans are also on par with us'. He said countries with closer ties to the German economy were the ones that were generally encountering problems, adding that though the European economy was weaker 'because of the war and the money being sent to Ukraine', it should not be said that 'the economic data should be attributed to reasons beyond our control'. 'Because if we start to give these explanations — which, by the way, are true — then we'll lose our ability to act,' PM Orbán said. 'So what actually interests me is not the reason behind it, but rather how we'll still be successful, how we'll achieve the goals we've set for 2025.' The prime minister emphasised that he does not want to give up any of the goals his government has set for this year. This was why, he said, that though they had been aware of the expected GDP growth rate, parliament had still passed 'the biggest tax cut in Europe'. 'These poor European leaders have sent 140 billion euros to Ukraine so far,' he said, adding that if this money were still in the European economy, the EU would be seeing growth rather than stagnation. PM Orbán noted, however, that Hungary's parliament has passed 'Europe's biggest tax cut scheme' which includes tax breaks for mothers. PM Orbán noted that a lifetime personal income tax exemption for mothers with three children will be introduced in October, while mothers of two below the age of 40 will be exempt from paying income tax from January 1. A PIT exemption will also be introduced for mothers under the age of 50 from 2027, which will be followed by an exemption for those under 60, 'and in 2-3 years' time, we'll reach a point where mothers with at least two children will have a lifetime exemption from paying personal income tax', he said. PM Orbán also said that 1,400 billion forints (EUR 3.5bn) in resources were available to businesses in the framework of the Demjan Sandor Program for scaling up SMEs. Meanwhile, he said it was crucial to prevent Ukraine's accession to the EU, arguing that it would bankrupt the Hungarian economy. 'Let's forget the stories. They want to admit Ukraine to the EU now. Brussels together with the Tisza Party. This would bankrupt the Hungarian economy. This can and must be prevented,' the prime minister said on Facebook after the interview. Noting the government's ongoing referendum on Ukraine's EU accession, Orban said the time to vote on the matter 'isn't someday but here and now'. PM Orbán said the leader of the European People's Party and the president of the European Commission had announced that they wanted to bring Ukraine into the bloc by 2030. The EPP, he added, had also called for fast-tracking Ukraine's accession. 'Forget all the stories that say they want to do this someday when [Ukraine] is ready, that's not what this is about. It's about them wanting to admit Ukraine as quickly as possible,' he said. PM Orbán said that if there were data that showed that this kind of enlargement would be worth it for Hungary, he would be in favour of Ukraine's accession. 'But today there are some countries for whom it is worth it because their large companies are there in Ukraine, and there are those for whom it would be costly.' 'We're on the wrong side because it would cost us, we'd go bankrupt, so I don't support [Ukraine's] membership,' the prime minister said, noting that this issue had made the referendum in Hungary more important. He said fast-tracking Ukraine's EU membership was 'a misguided and harmful policy' which could still be stopped, 'but when in two to three years we're on the verge of making the final decision, it'll be very hard to do so.' 'A machine that's already got momentum is much harder to stop than preventing it from gaining momentum,' PM Orbán said. 'Now is the time to open the eyes of not just Hungarians but also the eyes of citizens of European countries who are in a similar situation to us.' The prime minister said there were 'a dozen more countries' that would 'lose out' on Ukraine's EU accession, adding that they should be encouraged to speak out and their leaders should be encouraged to back Hungary's position 'so that we can prevent this together'. Meanwhile, PM Orbán said the war in Ukraine had so far cost Hungary 20 billion euros, and if this money were still in the European economy, there would be a higher rate of development. He said that until Europe 'turns its back on the war and joins the side of peace, the entire European economy will be coughing'. But, he added, European leaders wanted war and were trying to hinder the United States president's successful peace efforts. 'This mistake must be recognised, and it will be, but until then we'll lose a lot of money,' he warned. 'They must realise that they can't finance and maintain the Ukrainian army and economy without the United States.' He said there was 'no point' in Europe giving money to Ukraine without the US, warning that 'it can only go on for a few months, but will end with bankruptcy'. He said some 10 billion euros of the frozen funds had already been given to Hungary and had been used to finance a significant part of the wage hikes for teachers. Another 1,000 billion forints will arrive this year, he added. 'We're in a constant battle with Brussels to gain access to the money we're entitled to,' PM Orbán said, adding that the opposition Tisza Party had 'admitted that they're working to make sure we don't succeed at this'. He said it was 'evil' of Tisza MEP Kinga Kollar, who he said makes 'a monthly salary of 7 to 10 million forints', to be 'working in Brussels every day to prevent the national government from bringing home the funds we spend on upgrading hospitals, building roads, upgrading railways and improving the quality of public services'. 'By doing this, she's hurting Hungarians,' PM Orbán said. 'We also know why,' he said, adding that Kollar had said that 'she wants Hungary to be unsuccessful because that will allow the Tisza Party to come to power.' 'That's the Brussels-Tisza pact. That's a fact.' He said it was because of Tisza that he and his government had only gained access to half of the funds owed to Hungary, adding that 'the Tisza politicians are working to make sure we can't bring the rest of these funds home.' PM Orbán said it was time for Hungarians to 'wake up and realise that there is a Brussels-based international force, a big pro-war network making efforts to ensure that Hungary has a government that does whatever Brussels asks it to'. He said the leader of the EPP had said in Brussels that 'he wants the current government to be replaced by a puppet government led by Tisza'. 'Let's not let Brussels gain control of our homeland, let's not become a colony of Brussels,' he said, warning that this would have serious economic ramifications. PM Orbán said that if a 'puppet government controlled by Brussels' came to power in Hungary, its first act would be to scrap the household utility price caps, abolish taxes for multinationals and let gender activists into schools. He said that in the heating season, a family living in a detached home pays 260,000 forints for heating, while in Slovakia the bill would be 660,000 forints and in Poland 860,000 forints. Brussels, he said, was pushing Hungary to scrap the household utility price caps, but 'the national government is on the side of the people and refuses to do so because it would kill Hungarian families'. PM Orbán said that in next year's general election, Hungarians would get to decide whether they wanted 'a puppet government of Brussels or a national government'. Meanwhile, he said Ukraine's EU accession was a fundamental issue for Hungarian politics that would reshape the future of the next generation for 10-20 years, which must not be allowed. He said Tisza, the opposition Democratic Coalition and other opposition parties, with the exception of Our Homeland favoured giving Ukraine financial and military support and fast-tracking its EU accession, while 'the national side is against it'. PM Orbán said what mattered most was standing firm on the issue of Ukraine and 'not giving up on our goals regardless of any kind of figures that are released'. The prime minister said these goals included job protection, tax cuts, the expansion of the government's industry development policy, support for setting up 150 new factories, bolstering SMEs and the policy aimed at bringing prices down. He said that at next Wednesday's meeting, the cabinet wants to decide on bringing down the prices of manufactured goods and the introduction of VAT rebates for pensioners in October. 'If we do all this, then 2025 will be okay,' PM Orbán said. He noted that the government was discussing the 2026 budget and awaiting the Fiscal Council's opinion on how this year's lower growth rates will affect next year's budget. He said he believed the 2026 'anti-war pro-peace budget' was still viable under such circumstances, and 'we won't have to give up on a single one of our goals in 2026, either'.

Orbán: 'The money they want to spend on Ukraine could also be spent on Hungary'

Budapest Times

05-05-2025

Business
Budapest Times

Orbán: 'The money they want to spend on Ukraine could also be spent on Hungary'

In an interview on Kossuth Radio, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán laid out the government's position on Ukraine's fast-tracked accession to the European Union, presenting it as not only an economic threat to Hungary but also a broader strategic mistake for Europe. 'Ukraine's EU membership would bankrupt the Hungarian economy,' the prime minister declared. 'This is a national interest issue, and it's also a European one. If this goes forward, we are heading into a collective economic trap.' He warned that the EU's plan to accept Ukraine by 2030—an objective recently confirmed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the European People's Party—poses significant risks. 'We know when they want to bring them in. It's not some vague future; it's here, knocking at our door,' PM Orbán said. He dismissed claims that conditions for accession are still undecided, arguing instead that the process is already underway. 'Forget the fairy tales about when and how. They want to do it now, as fast as possible.' The prime minister linked the EU's economic stagnation directly to the war in Ukraine and the financial support being funneled out of Europe. 'These unfortunate European leaders have already sent €140 billion to Ukraine. If that money were in the European economy, there would be growth instead of stagnation,' he stated. For Hungary alone, the loss has been enormous: 'In three years, Hungary has lost €20 billion because of the war,' PM Orbán said. 'We're a country of 10 million. If we lost that much, how much did the Germans, with their 84 million people, lose?' Despite these conditions, the government has chosen to push forward with what the prime minister called 'Europe's largest tax cut program.' This includes lifetime income tax exemptions for mothers with two or more children under the age of 40, as well as the continued roll-out of support schemes for small and medium-sized businesses. 'We're expanding the program from 100 to 150 new factories, and the Sándor Demján program alone will distribute HUF 1.4 trillion. We will not retreat.' PM Orbán made it clear that the government would not allow Hungary to be saddled with shared EU debt in order to finance Ukraine's integration. 'The Brussels elite want to take out massive loans together. But debt leads to bankruptcy. If we borrow as we are now, when Europe is uncompetitive, our children and grandchildren will inherit a mountain of debt. That's the road to a giant collapse.' He warned that the majority of EU funds sent to Ukraine would benefit Western corporations already invested there. 'Just like what happened to us when we joined. Most of the money went back to the countries it came from,' he explained. 'We've changed that now. Today, we make sure that EU funds strengthen the Hungarian-Hungarian economy, not the foreign-Hungarian one.' Speaking on the domestic front, PM Orbán criticized the Tisza Party and MEP Kinga Kollár, saying that they are actively working to block Hungary's access to EU funds. 'They admitted it themselves. Kollár said they are the reason we've only recovered half the funds we are entitled to. She openly stated they want to stop hospital renovations. That's why I signed the National Resistance Movement's petition,' he said. 'The money we're owed isn't a gift—it's ours. We allow Western firms to make serious profits here. That return is not generosity. It's justice.' Addressing Ukraine's own demands, the prime minister described a moment from an EU Council meeting where President Zelensky personally requested full EU funding for Ukraine's one-million-strong army. 'He didn't ask—he demanded. They want us to pay, even if the Americans don't. And they think this is their right,' Orbán recounted. 'That's an incredible amount of money. Instead of building up our own armies, we'd be paying to maintain theirs.' In his call to action, PM Orbán emphasized the importance of the ongoing 'Voks 2025' public consultation. 'This isn't some distant debate. We are voting now. Everyone needs to participate,' he said. 'The most important thing in the Ukraine matter is to remain firm and not to abandon our own goals. We must protect jobs, implement the tax cuts, and resist war politics.' Looking ahead to next year, the prime minister expressed confidence that Hungary would navigate these challenges. 'We're preparing a peace-oriented, war-opposing 2026 budget that stands on its own two feet. If we do everything right, 2025 will be okay,' he concluded. In PM Orbán's view, Hungary's path must remain sovereign, economically rational, and focused on national interest—not on Brussels' ambitions or war-driven agendas. 'This is Hungary. We know our strengths, our weaknesses, and we know what we need to do,' he said. 'These are big, ambitious goals, but if we stay the course, we'll reach them.'

EU strategy towards Ukraine is ‘rudderless'

Russia Today

23-03-2025

Politics
Russia Today

EU strategy towards Ukraine is ‘rudderless'

The EU has messed up its policy on the Ukraine conflict, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said. He reproached Brussels for its pro-war stance, while Washington is actively negotiating with both Moscow and Kiev to end the hostilities. Earlier this week, Hungary refused to endorse the EU's joint statement on Ukraine following the European Council meeting in Brussels. The document reaffirmed the bloc's uncompromising stance on the conflict and its intentions to further supply the country with weapons. 'I'm trying to find a good word that isn't offensive to them, but accurately describes the situation; perhaps 'rudderless' is the right term,' Orban said on Friday in an interview with Kossuth Radio, when asked to assess the EU's strategy regarding Ukraine and during the post-war period in general. Read more Something needs to be done to save Germany. €1 trillion of debt is not it The Hungarian leader warned that at some point, Europeans will find themselves in 'a situation where everything is already settled,' emphasizing that Brussels won't even be needed for the agreements that could eventually be reached by Washington. Shortly after taking office on January 20, US President Donald Trump launched a diplomatic campaign aimed at mediating an end to the conflict. His special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, recently suggested that a complete ceasefire between Kiev and Moscow could be reached within several weeks. 'There will be an American-Ukrainian agreement, an American-Russian agreement, and even a Russian-Ukrainian agreement brokered by them [the US],' Orban said, stressing that the bloc had 'messed up.' READ MORE: Europe's policy on Ukraine conflict 'paradoxical' – Kremlin The prime minister recalled that he had warned earlier that unless the EU 'changed our pro-war position and started outlining and standing for an independent European stance, we would find ourselves exactly in the position that we are in now: the future of Europe is being settled without us.' The Hungarian authorities have long criticized the EU's approach to the Ukraine conflict as being incapable of ending the hostilities and damaging to the bloc's member states. Orban has urged EU leaders to align the bloc's stance with that of the Trump administration. He stressed that while the US is opting for a peaceful resolution of the conflict, the EU is pursuing a policy of more war.

Russia Today

07-03-2025

Business
Russia Today

EU ‘can't afford' to support Ukraine

The EU does not have the financial capacity to continue aiding Ukraine, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban warned in an interview with Kossuth Radio on Thursday. He argued that the bloc's budget will be stretched too thin if it moves forward with all its planned initiatives, including another support package for Kiev, financing its EU membership bid, and ramping up European defense spending. Orban's remarks came after he vetoed the EU's proposed €30 billion ($32 billion) military aid package for Ukraine at an emergency European Council meeting earlier in the day. Despite support for the proposal from the other 26 EU leaders, Orban argued that it effectively greenlighted the continuation of the conflict. In his interview, the prime minister outlined the mounting financial burdens the bloc faces if it does not change course. First, he said, the EU would be responsible for funding Ukraine's military, as 'the Ukrainians don't have a penny for that.' Second, Brussels would have to bankroll the Ukrainian government, including salaries and pensions, because 'Ukraine, as a state, is not functioning.' Third, the bloc would need to fund Ukraine's EU membership bid, with no clear estimate of how much it could cost. Lastly, Orban pointed out that the EU has approved the ReArm Europe initiative, which calls for up to €800 billion in new defense spending. 'If I add all this up, there isn't that much money in the bloc. So this won't work like that… I think the bottom line is that we can't afford this,' Orban stated, urging EU leaders to reconsider their stance on Ukraine. The bloc's Ukraine support package is expected to be revisited at the next EU leaders' summit later this month. However, Orban suggested that even then, the proposal is unlikely to pass, as more nations are beginning to realize that there are no available funds. Orban's remarks come as EU leaders grow increasingly concerned over the impact of US President Donald Trump's recent policy shift on Ukraine. According to media reports, the White House has frozen new military aid to Kiev, a move Trump had been warning about for weeks. He also urged European nations to take on greater responsibility for Ukraine's war effort and their own defense, repeatedly stating that he wants the conflict to end as soon as possible so he can focus on domestic policy.

Latest news with #KossuthRadio

More than 2 million have returned questionnaires on Ukraine's accession to EU

Orbán: We are not giving up on any of the goals we have set for 2025

Orbán: 'The money they want to spend on Ukraine could also be spent on Hungary'

EU strategy towards Ukraine is ‘rudderless'

EU ‘can't afford' to support Ukraine

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