PM Orban's Position Prevailing At EU Summit Irks MEPs

The European Parliament met to assess the outcome of the special EU summit, and reaffirmed the EU's unwavering support for Ukraine.

Brüsszel, 2024. február 1. A Miniszterelnöki Sajtóiroda által közreadott képen Orbán Viktor miniszterelnök (j) az Európai Unió tagországai állam- és kormányfõinek rendkívüli csúcstalálkozóján Brüsszelben 2024. február 1-jén. Mellette Luc Frieden luxemburgi miniszterelnök (j2). MTI/Miniszterelnöki Sajtóiroda/Fischer Zoltán Fotó: Miniszterelnöki Sajtóiroda/Fischer Zoltán

 Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (l3), German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (l2) and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis (l) at the extraordinary summit of EU heads of state and government in Brussels, February 1, 2024. From right: Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov (r2) and Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden (r) Photo: MTI/Hungarian PM's Press Office/Zoltan Fischer)

Unlike the presidents, the left-wing mainstream in the European Parliament turned the session into an 'Orban show' once again.

Katalin Cseh, vice-chair of the Renew Europe group, said that Viktor Orban's blackmailing policy had failed and that the aid to Ukraine was a matter of life and death.

Manfred Weber Photo: Julien Warnand

Manfred Weber, president of the European People's Party, said that Orban's blackmail could not stand in the way of European unity and that the €50 billion aid would allow reforms in Ukraine to get underway. He said that we know Ukraine will win the war, that threats do not work, and thanked Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk for his committed support.

The Greens' co- president said the February EU summit proved that the 26 countries are stronger together than Viktor Orban alone, and called for Article 7 proceedings against Hungary.

This dominant atmosphere was only broken by speakers such as German Gunnar Beck, Identity and Democracy group, who noted that although Ursula von der Leyen said February 1 was a "good day", it was really about the EU's blackmail of Viktor Orban.

Gunnar Beck pointed out that the approved aid for Ukraine could have been used to support European farmers, but the EU funds will now line the pockets of the US arms manufacturers.

 Cover photo: In the photo released by the Hungarian PM's Press Office, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (r) attends the extraordinary summit of EU heads of state and government in Brussels on February 1, 2024. Next to him is Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden.  (Poto: MTI/Hungarian PM's Press Office/Zoltan Fischer)