Hungary is the most corrupt country in the European Union. This was said by the rapporteur of the European Parliament and an MEP from the group “The Greens” – Dutch Tineke Strick, reports BTA.
Ahead of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's presentation of Hungary's presidency to the European Parliament in Strasbourg tomorrow, Strick said the country's rule of law situation had worsened over the past six years, despite the EU launching seven procedures against Budapest since 2018 .
The Prosecutor General in Hungary is not independent, reported the EP rapporteur. She also said that the country lacks media pluralism. The media is under Orbán's control, and the inconvenient ones are closed.
The rights of people from the LGBT community, who are not allowed to have their own families, are also violated.
„The changes in Hungary remain only on paper. Everyone with a different opinion is being persecuted, Strick reported.
She said she would insist that the European Union put pressure on Hungary to respect the union's core values. All pressure mechanisms must be used - through the EU Court, as well as through the activation of Art. 7 of the Treaty on European Union (which allows for the withdrawal of rights arising from EU membership if a country seriously and continuously violates the principles on which it is based), the rapporteur said.
For his part, the Hungarian Prime Minister said at a press conference in Strasbourg that the European Union should focus on its priorities.
As one of them, he pointed to illegal migration. The only solution to deal with this problem is to build centers outside the EU.
“If we cannot agree that those who want to enter the EU must stop at the European border and apply, we will never be able to stop migration. "Without this system, we have no chance," he stressed.
„Once he has entered the EU, even if he is not entitled to a residence permit, the migrant will not leave it. And I don't know of any government that wants to round up all these people by force, put them on a truck and send them back. That will never happen. The only migrant who does not stay is the one who does not enter the EU”, added Orbán.
The results of illegal migration in Europe are the strengthening of anti-Semitism, the growth of violence against women and homophobia, the Hungarian Prime Minister also said, and proposed to start systematic meetings of the leaders of the countries of the Schengen area, in which they manage migration at the highest level level.
As another priority, Orbán outlined increasing the competitiveness of the EU. He noted that economic growth is needed, but trade is falling, and European companies pay 2-3 times more expensive electricity and up to 4 times more expensive gas than their competitors in the US.
Regarding the enlargement policy, Orbán noted that his country supports the accession of the countries of the Western Balkans.
„Without them, Europe will never be complete. For twenty years, we have been promising the Western Balkans that we will accept them in Europe”, he said and emphasized that without Serbia the expansion will not be successful.
The Hungarian Prime Minister pointed out that Ukraine cannot defeat Russia on the battlefield and insisted on a truce that would save many lives. He said that both direct and indirect communication between warring parties is necessary, and it is the job of international politics to find a third party to mediate between them. “The EU strategy so far is wrong,” Orban stressed.
The Hungarian Prime Minister's press conference was briefly interrupted after a protesting Hungarian citizen stormed the hall. He was knocked down by security before being escorted out of the room.