Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban proposed to approve the full membership of Bulgaria and Romania in the Schengen area by the end of the year. He made this statement today during the presentation of the program of the Hungarian rotating presidency of the Council of the EU to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, quoted by BTA.
Regarding the return of internal border control from Germany, Orbán stressed the need to restore the proper functioning of Schengen and proposed the introduction of a system of summits on the subject of “Schengen”.
According to the Hungarian Prime Minister, the fight against illegal migration is a key priority of the Hungarian Presidency. Orbán stressed that the protection of the EU's external borders is important for the entire union and called for support for the countries located along these borders.
He reiterated the proposal to create migrant registration centers outside the EU, adding that the current asylum system does not work effectively. Orbán expressed the view that illegal migration leads to an increase in anti-Semitism and homophobia, prompting a mixed reaction of cheers and boos in the hall.
On defense issues, Orbán said that the EU is unable to provide adequate security and that it is necessary to strengthen the defense industry. He cited Hungary as an example, investing 2.5% of GDP in defense.
Another key topic for the Hungarian Presidency is EU competitiveness. Orban stressed that economic growth in Europe is significantly slower than in the US and China, adding that high natural gas prices further complicate the situation. He noted the importance of supporting energy infrastructure and the construction of liquefied natural gas terminals.
Regarding the green transition, Orbán expressed doubt that it will be a sufficient solution to the energy crisis, predicting that by 2030, businesses using fossil fuels will not decrease.
Finally, Orbán again called for the rapid accession of the countries of the Western Balkans to the EU, stressing that some of the candidates already meet the technical requirements, but there is a lack of political unanimity for their acceptance.