Latest news with #SzázadvégFoundation
Budapest Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Budapest Times
Poll: Europeans oppose sending troops and weapons to Ukraine
Amid escalating rhetoric from the European political elite in support of military aid to Ukraine, the latest survey from the Századvég Foundation's Europe Project reveals a growing divide between policymakers and public opinion. In 2025, for the first time since the outbreak of the conflict, a majority of EU citizens now oppose the delivery of weapons to Ukraine. According to the findings, 49 percent of Europeans are against weapons shipments, compared to 44 percent in favor. This represents a clear reversal from previous years, and marks a steady decline in support—down six percentage points from 2023. Simultaneously, the number of EU member states where the majority of the population opposes military aid rose from 12 in 2023 and 2024 to 16 in 2025 Despite this shift, key European leaders continue to pursue expanded military assistance. In early 2025, the President of the European Commission called for accelerating arms and ammunition deliveries to Ukraine. Shortly thereafter, a €800 billion rearmament plan was announced to strengthen European defense budgets, specifically citing the need to support Ukraine during this 'critical moment.' The divide is even starker on the question of troop deployments. Századvég's research shows that 67 percent of EU citizens oppose sending their own country's soldiers to Ukraine. In no EU member state does support for military intervention reach a majority, and in many—particularly Hungary (90 percent opposition) and Bulgaria (85 percent)—the rejection is overwhelming. Only Sweden and Finland approach a more balanced public stance.
Budapest Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Budapest Times
Századvég: Brussels could plunge Hungary into an energy crisis
The Europe Project 2025 study, recently released by the Századvég Foundation, provides stark evidence of the growing energy crisis across the European Union. According to the data, 22 percent of Europeans are unable to properly heat their homes, and 26 percent have missed utility payments at least once in the past year due to financial constraints. These figures have more than tripled since before the current crisis, showing that over 65 million additional people in the EU are now energy-poor. Hungary, however, remains the exception. With just 9 percent of households struggling with heating and 12 percent behind on utility payments, Hungary reports the lowest energy poverty levels in the entire EU. These results are credited to the country's utility cost reduction policy, which uses strict regulatory pricing to protect families from market shocks and inflation. But these protections are under threat. Brussels is currently pushing a new package of sanctions that would ban all imports of Russian energy into the European Union. If implemented, the plan would cause wholesale gas prices to double, rising from 35 to nearly 70 euros per MWh, and possibly more due to market speculation. As a result, Hungary's energy costs would rise by up to HUF 1.1 trillion annually, rendering its current price protection scheme financially unsustainable. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has warned of the consequences. 'Without our utility cost reduction program, Hungary would also be in trouble,' he stated in a public message. He pointed out that if the Brussels proposal were enacted, Hungarian families would see heating costs jump to 3.5 times their current level. This would raise annual household expenses from HUF 176,900 to HUF 625,000, an increase of nearly half a million forints per year. Monthly electricity bills would double from HUF 7,000 to 14,000, and gas bills would climb from HUF 16,000 to 54,000. Hungary currently imports around 7.5 billion cubic meters of Russian gas per year, which accounts for a significant portion of its national consumption. Replacing this supply on the open market would be significantly more expensive, and the necessary infrastructure for alternatives, such as LNG, remains limited. The Századvég analysis also estimates that since 2022, high energy prices and reduced export opportunities have already cost Hungarian households an average of HUF 2.2 million. A complete ban on Russian gas would add another 448,000 forints in annual expenses, compounding the burden of other EU policy priorities such as military aid and accelerated accession for Ukraine. As the Europe Project 2025 findings illustrate, Hungary's regulatory model has been crucial in shielding citizens from the worst effects of Europe's energy crisis. Prime Minister Orbán is now calling on voters to support continued resistance to EU energy sanctions through the upcoming Voks 2025 opinion poll, stressing that this is a 'life-or-death issue for every Hungarian family.'
