EU Leaders Reach Agreement with Hungary, Orbán Claims Victory
In a recent development, EU leaders have reached an agreement with Hungary, much to the satisfaction of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The negotiations were swift, with European Council President Charles Michel wasting no time in outlining the details of the agreement, which received no objections from any leader, including Orbán himself. The agreement includes certain concessions to Hungary, ensuring that Orbán can save face domestically. A diplomat from the EU remarked that an annual discussion on the aid package and a potential review in two years’ time would provide Orbán with the necessary leverage at home.
Unsurprisingly, Hungary wasted no time in spinning the outcome as a victory for Budapest. Balázs Orbán, the political director of Hungary (no relation to Viktor Orbán), boldly claimed that Budapest had achieved its desired outcomes from the summit. In a statement on X, Balázs Orbán emphasized that aid to Ukraine would be up for renegotiation at the end of the first year, while the entire issue would be reconsidered in the context of the EU budget for the subsequent period at the end of the second year.
However, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz were quick to clarify that Orbán had not been granted any additional concessions. This sentiment was echoed by von der Leyen during a post-summit press conference. To assuage Budapest’s deep mistrust towards the Commission regarding the disbursement of funds to Hungary, an additional sentence was included in the agreement. This sentence referred to earlier summit conclusions and provided guarantees that the evaluation of Hungary’s rule of law by the European Commission would be conducted fairly and objectively. An EU diplomat revealed that this commitment to fair treatment was a significant achievement for Orbán.
Behind closed doors, diplomats and officials revealed that Orbán had little choice but to give in to avoid a potentially disastrous political crisis. Prior to the announcement, EU leaders made it abundantly clear that they held the upper hand in the negotiations. Estonia’s Prime Minister Kaja Kallas emphasized Hungary’s reliance on Europe, urging Orbán to consider the benefits of Hungary’s membership in the EU.
This agreement marks a delicate balance between meeting Hungary’s demands and ensuring that the EU’s principles and values are upheld. While Orbán may claim victory, it is evident that EU leaders were steadfast in their commitment to maintaining a fair and objective evaluation of Hungary’s adherence to the rule of law. As the aid package to Ukraine is set to be renegotiated and the issue revisited in the context of the EU budget in the coming years, it remains to be seen how Orbán will navigate these future discussions. One thing is certain: the dynamics between Hungary and the EU continue to evolve, with each side striving to protect its interests while maintaining a united front.