Hungary is a follower of ‘economic rationality’, PM’s political director says

Written by BT/MTI

Hungary seeks the best solutions to global challenges as a proponent of “economic rationality”, Balazs Orban, the prime minister’s political director, said at a conference on Hungary’s economic neutrality at the Ludovika University of Public Service on Wednesday.

Hungary’s competitiveness cannot depend on the European Union, alone, Orban said. He added that the country should continue to avail of the opportunities offered by the EU, in spite of signs of “institutional incapacitation” in Brussels and trade and economic policy that run counter to competitiveness.

Orban said Europe was behind in the terms of innovation and R+D support, while it had produced hardly any of its own global tech companies. He added that the EU’s financing system was “anti-innovation”, supporting purposes that would neither create jobs nor boost competitiveness.

“Either we politicise or we support innovation,” he said, adding that innovation funding needed to be brought closer to universities and research networks “with a better understanding of what is worth supporting than Brussels”.

The EU needs its own defence industry, he said, adding that the bigger goal of a joint EU defence force “doesn’t appear realistic at the moment”.