Mujtaba Rahman argues (“It’s time for the EU to solve its Orbán problem”, Opinion, March 31) that the EU must face down Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to protect Ukraine. He proposes to do so through financial blackmail or, if this approach fails, through the suspension of Hungary’s voting rights in the EU.
I fundamentally disagree with the author’s conclusions and his perception of the EU on which his conclusions are founded.
Admittedly, the EU is divided over a feasible strategy concerning the war in Ukraine. Currently, it doesn’t have one because supporting and arming Ukraine as long as it takes is not a strategy; it is a formulation used to cover up its absence.
The Trump administration’s attempts to end the military conflict and embed this process in a normalisation of relations with Russia presents a whole new political context for the EU. It is only natural that there is a political discussion on how to redefine our interests and objectives.
The Hungarian position is clear: localise, de-escalate and end the military conflict; engage in a discussion on a new European security architecture with all global stakeholders; develop individual and collective capabilities for EU member states to be able to defend themselves; and create the necessary economic background by making the EU more competitive.
It is a legitimate and sensible option. It presents a way of keeping the EU out of the war and a chance to bring peace where there is war. It restores some of our competitive advantages and reinforces defence capacities burnt in Ukraine. It offers an exit strategy from the EU’s increasing global isolation.
The author not only rejects our approach, but questions Hungary’s right to defend it. He proposes to use instruments designed to protect the EU’s fundamental values and financial interests for an unrelated purpose: crush dissent within the EU. This would be an abuse of power. But more importantly the rationale behind it carries a disturbing perspective for the EU’s future.
If you believe that the EU is at war, then all dissenting opinions will become existential threats. If you believe that you are fighting an external enemy, you will end up finding internal enemies that must be equally disposed of. Now it’s Hungary but there will be plenty of other targets. The EU is not an external or internal war project. Let’s not allow it to become one.
János Bóka
Minister for European Union Affairs, Budapest, Hungary
