Hungary firmly rejects Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, Minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office Gergely Gulyás said in the online program The Hour of Truth on Wednesday.
Minister Gulyás said the April parliamentary elections carry exceptional stakes, as the real opponent is not primarily the Tisza Party, but rather the Brussels-based political will that seeks to replace Hungary’s national government with a Brussels-aligned one.
The minister stated that Ukraine does not meet the conditions for accession negotiations under any reasonable assessment, calling the idea of its rapid admission “absurd” and the surrounding debate “incomprehensible.”
Minister Gulyás pointed out that Ukraine is a country at war, and due to the ongoing conflict in its eastern regions, even the scope of its sovereign authority cannot be clearly determined.
He emphasized that EU enlargement has always been based on clear treaty criteria, and argued that what Brussels is attempting would itself amount to a breach of EU treaties. According to the minister, the consequences of such a move would be borne by European citizens, which Hungary seeks to prevent.
Minister Gulyás warned that Ukraine’s accession would have immediate and severe consequences for Hungarian agriculture and cohesion funding.
At the same time, the minister stressed that Hungary condemned the invasion of Ukraine and has provided its largest-ever humanitarian assistance since the outbreak of the war, including sheltering refugees.
On energy policy, Minister Gulyás said Hungary has maintained Europe’s lowest household utility prices since 2013, which would not be possible without Russian oil and gas. He warned that abandoning these sources would make the utility price reduction scheme unsustainable.
The minister also argued that if the opposition were to form a government, Hungary would be required to send significantly more funds to Ukraine than the amount of EU resources currently withheld from the country.
Minister Gulyás concluded by stating that the enthusiasm of the national camp is growing, and that it is the responsibility of government leaders to clearly communicate the high stakes of the upcoming election.
