PM Orban: Ukraine’s EU Membership Would Be a Massive Burden for Hungary

In an interview after the Brussels summit, Hungary's prime minister expressed his concerns regarding Ukraine’s potential EU membership. Viktor Orban stated that accession would pose serious economic and security risks for Hungary, and emphasized the importance of consulting the Hungarian people's opinion before any decision is made on the matter.

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban before the start of the European Council’s extraordinary summit on March 6, 2025 (Photo: AFP)

In Viktor Orban's view, the Brussels summit addressed almost every key issue, with the primary topic being peace or war. Speaking with journalist Daniel Bohar, he explained that apart from Hungary and possibly Slovakia, all other EU member states support sending more money and weapons to Ukraine to continue the fight, believing that peace negotiations should only begin once Ukraine is in a stronger position on the battlefield.

Antonio Costa, the European Council President and Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban (Photo: AFP)

But we all know that the situation on the frontlines is only deteriorating for Ukraine, making the expectation of a more favorable negotiation position unrealistic. I believe this is a misunderstanding of the situation. The U.S. president is being much more realistic, saying that time is not on Ukraine’s side, and that the sooner peace is achieved the better for Ukraine, and that he will do everything toward this end.  Now that there is finally a world leader who wants peace, here in Europe, we should support that leader instead of pursuing policies that prolong the war,

the prime minister said.

Regarding Ukraine’s potential EU membership, Orban highlighted multiple concerns. Ukraine’s geographical borders remain unclear due to the ongoing war, and the country’s economic capacity is uncertain, as a significant portion of its industrial production has been destroyed. 

And the population size is unknown due to large-scale emigration, raising questions about whether people would return if Ukraine joins the EU. It is very difficult to assess the impact of membership,

he stressed, noting one certainty: the financial burden of Ukraine’s integration would be enormous for both the EU and Hungary. He remarked that Hungary simply could not bear the costs. To make a responsible decision, the PM insisted that the Hungarian people’s opinion will be sought on the matter through a public consultation.

This will not be a referendum, because the Hungarian law on referendums does not recognize public opinion votes. I am thinking more along the lines of our existing national consultation format. We want to do this swiftly and efficiently,

the prime minister said.

This is a decision of historical significance. While a veto is possible, a Hungarian government is elected for a four-year term, whereas the consequences of this decision could last many times that.

On the other hand, he expressed his desire for those who currently support Ukraine’s side to clarify their position and make it clear whether, in their view, Ukraine should become a member of the European Union or not. He wants to know whether there are people in the country willing to take on the financial and economic risks associated with this decision.

PM Orban warned that if Ukraine joined the EU, Hungarian farmers would suffer immensely. Large quantities of genetically modified agricultural products from Ukraine, produced under less strict regulations, would flood the Hungarian market, far exceeding Hungarian production capacities, creating unfair competition and potentially bankrupting local farmers.

If we want to protect our farmers, if we want to preserve Hungarian agriculture, this must be prevented at all costs." Furthermore, he pointed out that "the EU’s complex agricultural support system would shift resources away from Central Europe to Ukraine, meaning Hungary would lose significant EU funds. And then there's the issue of security. We are talking about a heavily armed country not particularly famous for public safety. They could freely come across the border. I believe this is an unnecessary risk that we cannot take on responsibly,

the PM stressed.

Additionally, he argued that cheap Ukrainian labor could push out higher-paid Hungarian workers, creating economic disadvantages for locals.

Furthermore, he pointed out that the EU’s complex financial distribution system ultimately benefits members who are less developed then the EU average. With Ukraine's entry resources would be shifted away from Central Europe to Ukraine.

Finally, PM Orban emphasized 

All nations are equal in the European Union, regardless of their size. There is also weighted voting, but when it comes to such matters, every nation is one vote.  EU enlargement decisions require unanimous approval, meaning that if Hungary vetoes Ukraine’s accession, it will not happen. 

Cover Image: Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban before the start of the European Council’s extraordinary summit on March 6, 2025 (Photo: AFP)