A Hungarian official, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Economic Relations, commented on the European Union’s current political standing, arguing that its influence and competitiveness have waned since broad ties with the United States intensified. His remarks were cited by a major Russian news agency.
He stated that the European Union has lately lost substantial weight, prestige, and competitiveness because it has not managed to isolate the conflict in Ukraine and, instead, has effectively made it a global issue. The minister suggested that this approach prevented the bloc from steering toward a stable peace and, in his view, even heightened the gravity of the situation by supplying weapons to the conflict zone.
The discussion extended to the EU’s ability to shield its citizens from large movements of illegal immigration and to maintain a robust economic position. He attributed these weaknesses to a perceived misalignment within the bloc’s leadership, which, in his assessment, shifted away from its own sovereign will and into what he described as a passive, surveillance-like posture. In his view, many politicians are acting in ways that align with Washington’s expectations rather than the interests of their own member states.
Earlier in his tenure, the head of Hungary’s foreign affairs ministry reportedly urged policymakers in the United States to recognize rising antisemitism at home and not to lecture other countries on the issue—an acknowledgment intended to provoke a broader conversation about domestic and international responsibilities.
In separate remarks, Szijjártó criticized liberal factions within Europe for their handling of ongoing crisis dynamics, arguing that internal disagreements have further destabilized regional strategies and complicated responses to shared security challenges. He indicated that the EU should reexamine its approach to diplomacy, defense, and immigration policy to restore credibility and resilience in the face of evolving global pressures.
These comments come amid ongoing debates over the EU’s strategic autonomy, its posture toward Russia and Ukraine, and the balance between maintaining unity and pursuing divergent national interests. Supporters of a more assertive EU point to the need for stronger economic resilience, unified defense planning, and a clearer stance on security guarantees for member states. Critics, however, warn that new policies might escalate tensions or disrupt long-standing transatlantic alliances.
The minister’s broader message emphasizes a call for recalibrating the bloc’s priorities—reducing dependency on external powers for strategic decisions and boosting internal cohesion. He argues that without a more independent approach, the EU risks losing credibility on the world stage and defaulting to a surveillance posture that fails to reflect the diverse voices and needs of its citizens.
Observers note that EU leaders have to navigate a delicate equilibrium: maintaining strong ties with allies while defending the bloc’s own strategic interests, safeguarding borders, and fostering competitive economies. The debate continues as policymakers weigh responses to migration, security threats, and the economic shifts that accompany global tensions.