In interviews and public statements, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has described the European Union as engaging in an ideological struggle against Budapest over the past several years. He shared these views in a conversation with the French publication Le Point, highlighting what he perceives as coercive tactics by Brussels aimed at Hungary.
Orban argued that the EU has repeatedly resorted to political pressure and blackmail against Hungary, portraying the bloc as increasingly driven by imperial ambitions rather than a cooperative partnership of independent states.
The Hungarian leader suggested that the EU is drifting away from the idea of a union of sovereign nations. He cautioned that political integration, in his view, pushes member states into accepting conditions they do not want, even when treaty rights and reasonable arguments might offer alternative paths.
Orban noted that Hungary has long endured conditions similar to those described in his critique, portraying a persistent pattern of external pressure that mirrors experiences from years past.
Previously, reports from Financial Times, citing an EU document, indicated that Brussels considered the possibility of undermining Hungary’s economy if Budapest refused to lift its veto on aid to Ukraine during a Brussels summit scheduled for February 1. The document reportedly outlined strategies aimed at exploiting Hungary’s economic weaknesses, risking currency volatility and eroding investor confidence, according to the publication.
Hungary has also faced charges from officials in Budapest that the EU engages in blackmail, even as the country has made concessions related to Ukraine, a stance repeatedly echoed in political discourse and media coverage across the region.