Speaker: Ukraine’s accession to the EU would be catastrophic for the whole community

House Speaker László Kövér said Ukraine’s accession to the European Union would be tantamount to a “catastrophe” for the whole community.

During a lecture delivered at the European Free University at Lakitelek, in southern Hungary, on Friday, Kövér said accepting Ukraine as an EU member would also mean “admitting war” in the community, adding that he considered the war in Ukraine as “a world war, a continuation of the Second World War”.

Kövér insisted that at stake at next year’s parliamentary election was Ukraine’s EU accession, which would involve “risks and damage” to Hungary.

Among the security risks, Kover mentioned the war itself and “an infiltration of organised crime”, while he said Ukraine’s accession would make Hungary a net contributor to the EU. Hungarian farmers would lose direct agricultural subsidies and other resources, he added.

Kövér said Ukraine’s accession would pose a political risk, adding that “Ukraine’s accession would provide Brussels a tool to further centralise European decision making.” He argued that Ukraine’s weight would help decision makers avoid a minority veto. “The EU would not be the best arena for Hungary to promote its national interests,” Kover said. He also added that Ukraine’s fast track accession would “in fact be key for the EU’s transformation now underway.”