What Ernő spoke about.

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Written Statements HU

A new ERA for Research and Innovation (continuation of debate)

In the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, exploiting Europe’s potential for research and innovation is a priority. Developing new innovations is essential for the EU's economic recovery and for increasing Europe's competitiveness. As a result of the pandemic, researchers have faced a number of challenges, their situation has become precarious, they are experiencing more difficult working conditions, the pandemic situation has been an obstacle to the free movement of researchers, the exchange of knowledge technologies between Member States. For this reason, one of the important elements of the Hungarian government's economic protection action plan is to support the employment of highly qualified specialists in the research and development sector, promoting the long-term employment of tens of thousands of workers in the sector, maintaining wages, avoiding redundancies and creating new jobs. Last year, the wage subsidy for research, development and innovation contributed HUF 17 billion to keep nearly 23,000 professionals in work. The wage subsidy program relaunched in January this year contributed to the retention of more than 16 thousand highly qualified professionals with a total of HUF 12 billion. It is important that, by strengthening the European Research Area and widening participation, EU Member States can receive greater financial support in order to make optimal use of their national research and innovation potential. European small and medium-sized enterprises should be able to directly apply the European Research Area tools across all sectors, thus strengthening long-term strategic cooperation between academia and business.

20

May

2026

Speeches DE

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High time to deliver on the Single Market, providing certainty and predictability for EU businesses and quality jobs (continuation of debate)

It is always wonderful to see the left-wing political side here in parliament attacking one last government even after democratic elections in one country. But I think it's in their DNA. What I see is that between 2010 and 2024, Hungary saw one of the biggest economic miracles in its history. People are living better and the country is doing better than before Viktor Orbán took office. We can be proud of it, no matter what political demagoguery there is in this room.

20

May

2026

Answers DE

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High time to deliver on the Single Market, providing certainty and predictability for EU businesses and quality jobs (continuation of debate)

Mr. Colleague, I think you are from Germany, that is, I can address you in German. Over the past few years, I have watched German industry reflect on Hungary as a business location. In the last 15 years it has been really wonderful to see that German investments have come to Hungary, created jobs and also included the medium-sized sector in the German industrial miracle. What I was talking about was just the point: If German industry and Hungarian medium-sized industry are having a hard time – because of energy prices, because of the decisions being taken here in Brussels – we must act against this so that this economic miracle, which we saw after the reunification of Europe, can continue. That's what we work for. And your question – I cannot interpret that. I only see the point of view of the German economy, and it would like to thank Hungary for its business location over the past 15 years.

20

May

2026

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High time to deliver on the Single Market, providing certainty and predictability for EU businesses and quality jobs (continuation of debate)

Madam President, I'm sorry. Europe is not an example of competitiveness, but of growing backwardness, and that is a problem, it is our common cause. High energy prices are not simply a problem, but are strangling companies in both Western and Eastern Europe. They are putting jobs at risk and forcing industries out of the European Union. We have to deal with high energy prices. While you are presenting new internal market strategies and sounding so-called action plans, the reality in factories, SMEs and the uncontrolled digital space is completely different in every corner of the continent. In Germany alone, tens of thousands of industrial jobs are being lost every month, and Germany was and hopes to be Europe's economic engine. The promise of the concept of a Europe, a market, seems beautiful on paper, but for entrepreneurs and consumers today it is more of a bureaucratic maze than a real single market. We do not see legal certainty and effective consumer protection, but more obstacles. If there is no change of direction, it will remain for us a divided and globally marginalised continent instead of a Europe concept. We need to address this issue, bring it back to the people.

19

May

2026

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EU governance under pressure – institutional responses to global challenges (debate)

Mr. President, please. Nowadays it has become a sport how to centralize new powers unnoticed. All this, of course, always with the well-known and loud passwords: more Europe, more efficiency in the common EU interest. However, the end result is the same, less national room for manoeuvre, more central management. After Jean-Claude Juncker's Political Committee, we are now talking about a geopolitical Commission, but the substance has not changed. More and more powers are concentrated in the European institutions, and the Commissioner speaks of political guidance. According to our treaties, the Commission is the guardian of the treaties, not the government. Nations have governments. The issue of migration and freedom of speech has also shown that Europe needs common sense, respect and strong nation-states. Cooperation is yes, centralisation is not, only this can be a successful process of governance.

11

Mar

2026

Speeches HU

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Rise of political violence, notably by far-left organisations (debate)

10

Mar

2026

Speeches HU

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Single Market: how to move from an incomplete single market to one market for one Europe (debate)

Dear Madam President, The internal market of the European Union cannot be completed today. But how could he, when he is strangling it with Brussels' rules and ideology? Instead of strengthening competitiveness, more and more restrictions and more expensive energy are being imposed on European businesses. Let's finally face reality. At such high energy prices, European businesses are not developing but are closing down. Factories are shutting down, jobs are being lost, while our competitors in other parts of the world are boosting their economies with cheap energy. If we really want to increase Europe's competitiveness, we cannot ban the import of certain energy products for purely political and ideological reasons. We Hungarians say clearly that we say no to blackmail. We will not allow Hungary's economy and European businesses to be sacrificed on the altar of ideological decisions.

11

Feb

2026

Speeches HU

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State violence in Minneapolis and the rule of law in the United States (topical debate)

Dear Madam President, The left seems to think that there is nothing to be done in the European Union. If there are failures, they simply point outwards. Right now it is the United States, and that is what this debate is about. You are not disturbed by the rule of law, but by Donald Trump's failure to rise to the liberal fashion wave and his consistent policy on migration. The President of the United States is pursuing a policy that is not in line with that of Brussels. A policy that states: The state has the right and duty to protect its borders and protect its citizens. Hungary does this consistently. It is time to finally face up to their own failures and not to lecture others, but to strive for a real partnership with the Americans, with the United States.

21

Jan

2026

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Restoring control of migration: returns, visa policy and third-country cooperation (topical debate)

Mr. President, please. Listening to this debate about various migration brainstormings, newer and newer distributional proposals, I have the feeling that many people here still do not understand the essence of the problem. You are talking about quotas, mechanisms and administrative solutions, while a genuine influx of migrants has been taking place at Europe's borders for years. One inevitably asks the question: Where were you when Prime Minister Viktor Orbán defended Europe's external borders from the influx of migrants? Where were you when Hungary took on alone what everyone now calls a problem? Back then, education, attack and moralisation came from Brussels. What was the reward? We are punished with one million euros a day for saying no to illegal migration, while Brussels has unleashed the wave of migration with its irresponsible decisions, and today you do not dare to speak the truth in your own cities. No-go zones, integration failures and growing cultural pressures in schools that are incompatible with the values of local societies. We don't want any of this! Hungary will not be an immigrant country, not an experimental field. We have defended the borders, we have defended them, and this should not be punished, but thanked.

19

Jan

2026

Speeches HU

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The 28th Regime: a new legal framework for innovative companies (debate)

Madam President, I'm sorry. The 28th regime is not a mere proposal, but another attempt by Brussels to expand its own powers to the detriment of the competences of the Member States, to curtail the principle of unanimity. The experience of recent years is clear: What you choose today will become tomorrow's mandatory rule. Corporate law and taxation are not Brussels competences, but the basis of national economic policy. These decisions cannot be taken away from the Member States without seriously damaging competitiveness and democratic responsibility. Europe's competitiveness today is not weakened by a lack of rules, but by excessive, often ideological, regulation. Businesses want less administration and more room for manoeuvre, not new legal experiments.

17

Dec

2025

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2030 Consumer Agenda (debate)

Madam President, I'm sorry. We are before Christmas, shops are full of defective products, European supply chains are collapsing, unreachable customer services, and consumers are helpless in the face of the situation, and this is not by chance. Poor market surveillance in the EU, the plethora of problems and fraud affecting e-commerce, the slowness of alternative dispute resolution options created by the EU and the persistent delays in Brussels mean that European fraudsters are on the rise and consumers are at a loss. And what does the Commission do about it? It launches a new consumer strategy, full of evocative slogans such as digital fairness, while in practice new loopholes are opening up that make consumers completely vulnerable in the digital space. These are not real solutions, only theories and vague priorities. Consumers must be protected, ensuring genuine product safety and effective consumer protection in the EU.

26

Nov

2025

Speeches HU

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Protecting citizens' right to make cash payments and ensuring financial inclusion (debate)

26

Nov

2025

Speeches HU

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Defence of Democracy package (joint debate)

25

Nov

2025

Answers HU

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Protection of minors online (debate)

It is also very good that we speak Hungarian, because I want to be able to understand what I am about to say in Hungary without any interpretation. You've joined Manfred Weber's party, you've joined Manfred Weber's faction. You have been sitting in a faction that has allowed millions of illegal migrants into Europe in the last 15 to 20 years, because of which at the moment it is not possible to go to a Christmas market for children, parents, adults, the elderly, in peace and tranquility in Western Europe. And you stand up with your multi-tech history, stand up here in this House and attack the Hungarian government? Are you insulting the government in this House? I'll ask for it myself!

25

Nov

2025

Speeches HU

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Protection of minors online (debate)

Dear Madam President, Child protection is a fundamental obligation. Among the dangers of the digital world, the role of the family is irreplaceable. The European Commission can coordinate, but it cannot replace parents, communities and national legislators. In particular, it is not able to carry out effectively the market surveillance tasks assigned to it. There are many dangers to our children today. I simply cannot say nothing, I apologise, the chief speaker of the European People's Party, the representative of Tisza, today talks about child protection, while previously he worked for the very tech giant that dragged minors into the world of addiction and online dangers for years. And let's talk about your party, the Tisza. Today, everyone is being educated on cybersecurity and digital issues in a loud voice, while the data of a simple application could not be kept safe due to their negligence. We want real and effective child protection online. Thank you very much!

21

Oct

2025

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Institutional consequences of the EU enlargement negotiations (debate)

Mr. President, please. Accession to the Union is not a matter of political bargaining, but of clear, transparent conditions. Each candidate country must comply with the same rules. Countries cannot be linked, packaged and politically pressured to push through decisions. The enlargement of the European Union is not an ideological playground, but a serious foreign policy and strategic decision affecting the common future of all of us. It should therefore be clearly stated: In foreign affairs, unanimity is the basis, and we do not have to, nor should we change that. This is the last true guarantee of the sovereignty of the Member States.

8

Oct

2025

Speeches HU

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Promoting EU digital rules: protecting European sovereignty (debate)

Dear Mr President, Today, the digital space is not only a technology, but also a foundation for freedom of speech and innovation. Unfortunately, the European Commission has recently moved in a direction of gold-plating that not only hinders, but also makes it impossible for our businesses to operate. Digital internal market rules are often so complex and burdensome that companies are unable to put them into practice and tend to suspend their previous activities. This serious mistake threatens fundamental civil rights, while hampering innovation and not providing real protection for European citizens. We Patriots are not asking Brussels and the Commission for more bureaucracy, but for an opportunity to work, to develop and to innovate. Ursula von der Leyen and her Commission, on the other hand, have taken these very things from us in recent years: jobs, investment, development, the future of the people of Europe.

8

Sep

2025

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Public procurement (debate)

Dear Mr President, The review of EU public procurement rules is highly timely. The development of digitalisation and the spread of new technologies all encourage us to modernise, simplify and adapt the framework to the real needs of the economy. However, we are saddened to see that the left is once again taking this process in a different direction. Ideological, green and often unattainable social aspects are smuggled into a fundamentally economic area. This attitude is not an answer to the day-to-day problems of businesses, but only creates new obstacles for them. It is difficult to expect the Commission to reform public procurement effectively when it has failed in all other areas. Ms Von der Leyen promised to increase the EU’s competitiveness. In reality, it is difficult and unpredictable for businesses to apply for anything, as they also face very high energy prices, the consequences of adverse agreements with the United States and excessive bureaucracy. In this review, the Commission is therefore expected to make a proposal that strengthens competitiveness and serves the economy.

8

Jul

2025

Speeches HU

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Presentation of the programme of activities of the Danish Presidency (debate)

Dear Madam President, Dear Madam Prime Minister, Dear Minister, The responsibility of the Member State holding the rotating Presidency is enormous. Its primary task is to facilitate coordination between the Member States, even when we are talking about socialist governments. Already at the beginning of the Danish Presidency, you have taken politically-based positions, which are particularly threatening to my country, Hungary. I don't get it. Europe now needs peace, real competitiveness. You want to accelerating the accession of a country at war to the EU. The Hungarian people clearly said no to this. With this step, you would destroy European security, economy and agriculture, while blackmailing Hungary's freely elected government and its electorate. In 2015, Hungarians once said no to their threats, to their education, to illegal migration, to integration difficulties, to imported terrorism and anti-Semitism, to the atrophy of the majority language in our schools and institutions. This may be the way to Brussels, it may be your way, but we are not asking for it, just as we are not asking for it now, for education, for incitement to war and for the destruction of the European economy. I ask the Danish Presidency to respect the democratic decision of my compatriots, the Hungarian people.

17

Jun

2025

Speeches HU

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Latest developments on the revision of the air passenger rights and airline liability regulations (debate)

Dear Madam President, Since the COVID-19 outbreak, European aviation has been facing an increasing number of problems. Cancellations, long delays, missing baggage and, in many cases, airline liability-averse, often cynical attitudes all over Europe. Our citizens often wait weeks or months for legitimate refunds. This practice is not only unfair, but also profoundly unfair. The experience is clear: the current regulatory frameworks are outdated and do not provide adequate protection for travellers in the digital era across Europe. We must ask ourselves, how can it happen that citizens of the 21st century are still forced to travel according to the rules of the 20th century? This situation is not worthy of the European Union, the pace of legislation is not reassuring, more than a decade has passed without any real progress in this area. We are in favour of a modern, passenger-friendly and predictable consumer protection, where the rules are not only formulated but also implemented.

8

May

2025

Speeches HU

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Old challenges and new commercial practices in the internal market (debate)

Mr. President, please. One of the most important achievements of the European Union is our single internal market. However, the competitiveness of the Union is constantly declining and our global competitors are increasingly ahead of us. Excessive bureaucracy is hampering European businesses and especially producers, while success sectors are increasingly abandoning production on our continent. Our market is flooded with unsafe products of dubious origin and unhealthy agricultural products are pushing down our domestic producer prices. Instead of focusing on strengthening the single market and making it more efficient, decisions are now under threat to allow third countries to enter this already damaged single market. This is irresponsible and dangerous. Such a move could further increase economic instability and ultimately reduce the resources available to Member States. Honourable Members, this cannot remain the case.

5

May

2025

Speeches HU

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Preparation of the EU-UK summit (debate)

3

Apr

2025

Speeches HU

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Establishment of a European Day of the Righteous (debate)

Dear Mr President, We Hungarians know well the horrors of communism and the Arrow Cross dictatorship. Our ancestors and we remember how they deprived people of their freedom, their faith and their national identity. During the communist Arrow Cross dictatorship, political repression, forced labour camps, the secret police and the suppression of freedom of speech were commonplace. The government brutally suppressed all resistance. On the Day of the Righteous, we remember with respect all those who have sacrificed their lives in defence of human dignity and in the struggle for freedom. Unfortunately, we see that democratic values in Europe are still at risk. In some cases, we drift in the direction of arbitrariness. In Europe, elections are cancelled and politicians are banned from democratic elections. This day should therefore not only be a memory of the past, but also a warning. Europe can never again afford to drift in the direction of arbitrariness. We must fight for freedom, for justice, and defend what the victims of communism and fascism have tried to defend, national self-determination and genuine democracy.

2

Apr

2025

Questions HU

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Recent legislative changes in Hungary and their impact on fundamental rights (debate)

My colleague has visited Hungary several times, perhaps for the last time at the event of the Tisza Party. May I remind you: In Poland, Constitutional Court rulings are ignored, fellow party members have taken over public television, MPs are arrested on the open street. On the basis of a statement by your representatives, I have printed it here, and you have received support from the same left-wing NGOs that have actively intervened in Hungarian domestic politics. I would like to ask you, is this why you are attacking the constitutional rights of Hungarian parents and children? Is this why you want to force NGOs spreading gender and transideology on Hungarian families? We protect our children!

12

Mar

2025

Speeches HU

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EU Consumers Day: filling the gaps in protecting 440 million consumers in the EU (debate)

Mr. President, please. The European Consumer Day is an opportunity to take stock of the current situation, the responsibility of the Brussels administration. We rightly expect the European Union to assert the protection of its 440 million citizens firmly and consistently. Instead, however, we see the internal market flooded with dubious products of uncertain origin, while being plagued by excessive bureaucracy in their own businesses. We need to build a Europe where regulation in the internal market is genuinely in the interests of citizens, not at the mercy of poor-quality products.