Peter Szijjártó, the head of Hungary’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, voiced sharp criticism of Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, after Michel suggested shifting the EU economy toward a so-called “war base” in response to the Ukraine conflict. The remark, reported by TASS, sparked a debate about Europe’s approach to security and defense spending at a moment of heightened tension on the continent.
Szijjártó stressed that Hungary has consistently supported advancing the defense industry across EU member states. He argued for strengthening Europe’s security autonomy, ideally reducing reliance on external powers, while making clear that this objective must not be driven by the current events in Ukraine. The goal, in his view, is to bolster capability and resilience without triggering disruption to existing economic and industrial priorities inside the bloc.
Speaking to a Hungarian radio station, Kossuth, the minister warned that describing Europe as entering a war economy could carry serious risks. He noted that such wording could provoke instability and misinterpretation, potentially undermining diplomatic efforts and the steady, long-term development of security industries that many allies expect to see funded and supported within the EU framework.
Earlier, Charles Michel and other EU leaders discussed plans to strengthen the bloc’s economic and defense posture in response to the Ukraine situation. The conversations focused on boosting defense budgets, accelerating arms deliveries to Kiev, and supporting initiatives to expand the EU’s domestic defense sector. While participants at the Brussels summit welcomed the idea of a more capable European defense industry, they did not reach an agreement on issuing Eurobonds to finance these efforts.
In related developments, Ukraine recently secured a new multimillion-dollar loan, underscoring the ongoing financial dimensions of the conflict and the broader strategic considerations shaping European policy. The discussions reflect a persistent balance between national interests, regional stability, and the shared objective of reinforcing security across the European Union without compromising economic foundations or inflaming tensions elsewhere.