Speeches

Dear Mr President, European university associations should be about scientific cooperation, opportunities for young people and Europe's competitiveness. Instead, this report is an ideological experiment and political blackmail, weakening university autonomy, undermining national competences and turning Hungarian students into political tools. Under the pretext of the rule of law, the Commission excludes young Hungarians from Erasmus, while there is no logical link between alleged deficiencies in the rule of law and pupil punishment, unless the aim is to turn Hungarian students against their own government. However, this game failed. With the Pannónia Scholarship Programme, the Hungarian state offers a wider and more generous opportunity than Erasmus. And thousands of students live with it. Political blackmail has failed. The Hungarian state protects its students, while Brussels' punitive policy seriously destroys Hungarians' trust in the EU.

Dear Madam President, The left-liberal wing of the European Parliament has once again put Serbia on the agenda. Instead of talking about the country joining the EU as soon as possible, we are discussing the protests again. But since that's the case, let's talk about reality. Serbia was shaken by two terrible tragedies in a short time. The 2023 Ribnikar school shooting, which killed 14 innocent people, followed last November by the Novi Sad tragedy, which killed 16 people, including children and young people. Both cases triggered street movements. The social upheaval was understandable and the demands were justified. But what the opposition did was no longer a recipe for democracy, but for civil disobedience and anarchy. Imagine what would happen if ten or fifteen people in one of your universities paralyzed education, or if a dozen people in the European Parliament blocked work with smoke bombs and firecrackers? That would be outrageous and unacceptable. This is exactly how it happened in Serbia. The European Parliament cannot apply double standards. Yes, we must condemn the abuses against the demonstrators, but we must also condemn the violence against the police. I live in Novi Sad. I get information about the events not only from the media, but also from the videos and stories of my fellow citizens and acquaintances. That's how I know that hundreds of police officers were injured, but I also saw footage of them being beaten with metal bangs. We can't accept hooligans trying to start a civil war. Violence must be condemned and political debates brought back from the streets to parliament.

Dear Madam President, An important result of last year's Hungarian EU Presidency is that the regulation on air passenger rights has been on the agenda again, which has not been discussed for five years. We Hungarians consider it important that the nearly twenty-year-old regulation, which is obsolete on many points, is replaced by a modern, clear and implementing legislation. We are convinced that the current level of passenger rights should not be reduced, on the contrary, we need legislation that is easy to understand and provides real protection in today's travel conditions. It is regrettable that the Polish Presidency has not taken the work forward as decisively as Hungary has started. That is why we consider it important for the Commission to carry out a thorough impact assessment that presents detailed data on the consequences of the planned amendments for both passengers and industry. Hungary remains committed to ensuring that the final regulation effectively protects passenger rights both in principle and in practice.

Mr. Congressman, I'm sorry. As usual, he is mocking his country, Hungary, again, and I know that he will now use my Blue Card to denigrate and criticise Hungary for one more minute. DK has already done this, Momentum has already done this, we have seen this on the part of MSZP. But what the Titans do is beyond anything. They are pushing this to the top in order to discredit Hungary, their country. I ask you, aren't you ashamed?

Dear Mr President, If transport is to be made sustainable, the balance between the different modes of transport must be consciously shifted towards environmentally friendly solutions. In Hungary, car use is approaching EU level, while the share of bus and rail is still above the EU average. Hungary is committed to providing accessible and affordable community services, therefore it is also working on improving the connectivity of suburban, agglomeration and rural areas, and it does not even ignore Hungarian communities beyond the border. A symbolic and practical example of this is the development of the Budapest-Belgrade railway line, which not only serves sustainable transport, but also connects Hungarian communities in the mainland and in Vojvodina. Hungary is committed to sustainable mobility, reinforced by the county rental system introduced in 2023. Thanks to the rental system, more people choose public transport, while road traffic and environmental pressures are reduced.

Dear Mr President, Montenegro has been a candidate country for EU membership since 2010 and Serbia since 2012. They have been working on accession for over a decade, implementing reforms to align with EU standards. Montenegro has already fulfilled intermediate milestones in the rule of law chapters, and Serbia has fulfilled the conditions for the opening of the third cluster, competitiveness and inclusive growth, many years ago, but there is a lack of political will in Brussels to accommodate them. And what do we see? The European Commission is setting up a task force of 1,000 people to fast-track Ukraine, a candidate country for only three years, and even adapt EU decision-making rules to do so. Ukraine's membership of the EU is a serious security and economic risk. The Hungarian people clearly state their opinion on this. More than two million people have already participated in the VOKS 2025 consultation. We agree to speed up negotiations for Serbia and Montenegro. These two Western Balkan countries should already be in the EU.

Dear Madam President, Our children are increasingly at risk online. This is the opinion of 92% of European citizens, according to Eurobarometer, and parents are rightly concerned. And we Hungarians say it clearly: children should not be victims of online predators or ideological experiments. We therefore support the new EU legislation, which provides for uniform definitions, stricter penalties and accountability for online platforms, but the proposal must also take into account the cultural differences and constitutional priorities of the Member States and must not lose sight of the competences of the Member States. At the same time, we strongly reject the fact that Brussels, under the pretext of progressive liberalism, is sending gender activists to our schools or forcing marches full of explicit and aberrant sexual content on our public spaces. Hungary has had a strict child protection law in place since 2021, providing real protection for minors. We support the protection of children, but we do not support the covert introduction of gender ideology or LGBTQ propaganda.

Dear Madam President, The Russian-Ukrainian war cannot be won. The war has only losers: Widows, orphans, mothers weeping for their children. As a minority in Ukraine, Transcarpathian Hungarians are exponentially endangered in this conflict. If there is a community that really understands what it means to be forced into war as a minority, it is us, the Hungarians of Vojvodina. During the South Slavic wars, Hungarian men were taken to fight with arms on the Serbian or Croatian side, depending on where they lived. That wasn't our war. Like the Hungarians in Transcarpathia, they flew into the war unwittingly. From the beginning, Hungary has been on the side of peace, and today it is no longer alone in this. A difficult but hopeful dialogue began, through which prisoners of war could return home and fallen soldiers could receive a worthy funeral. But people don't want to bury their loved ones, they wait for them to come home alive. The European Union should not instigate the war, but de-escalate it. Ukraine, the region and Europe as a whole need peace.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Research and innovation are key to preserving Europe's competitiveness, and the Commission's objective of halting and even reversing the brain drain is therefore to be welcomed. In the initiative 'Choose Europe, Choose Science', however, we see a serious contradiction. While Brussels attracts researchers from overseas, some EU researchers are excluded from joint programmes. Hungarian researchers have not had access to Horizon Europe funds for three years. Not for scientific or administrative reasons, but for political reasons. The European Commission wants to punish the Hungarian government by excluding the Hungarian research community, even though this will result in exactly what it would in principle want to prevent, the brain drain. Today, Hungarian researchers are at a disadvantage not only vis-à-vis their colleagues in the EU, but also vis-à-vis their colleagues in third countries. This exclusion is not only unfair, but also weakens Europe's competitiveness. The excellent Hungarian researchers deserve to belong to the unified research area.

Mr. President, please. Thank you very much for the word. We are saddened to see that, as in the past, this Serbian country report is unbalanced, politically biased, does not present real progress in a proportionate manner and ignores the geopolitical sensitivity of the region. Commissioner Kos said during her recent visit to Belgrade that she and the European Commission support university students. The Commission's demands should relate to institutional reforms and not to support a group that polarises society, aims to overthrow the government, or anarchistically obstructs the functioning of institutions, violates the right to education of minor children, or forcibly prevents university professors from entering their workplace. The Commission's task should be to stabilise and strengthen institutional functioning, not to interfere in Serbia's internal affairs. Hungarian Patriot MPs continue to stand by Serbia's EU membership as soon as possible, as this is in the interest of the Hungarians in Vojvodina, Hungary and ultimately Europe as a whole. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much for your question, Congresswoman. It was expected that a member of the Tisza Party would ask such a question. However, I would like to ask how it is that the Tisza Party is happy that the European Union is withholding the resources that are rightfully due to Hungary, and they hope that the Tisza Party will therefore perform better in the 2026 election. This is a very, very selfish request and a very selfish consideration. I think it is completely unacceptable that you are happy that it is bad for the Hungarian people to be better for you.

Mr. President, please. The left-wing Grand Coalition of the European Parliament wants an EU budget after 2027 whose resources would further support the implementation of the disastrous Pact on Asylum and Migration, the opaque funding of pseudo-civilian political activist networks, the financing of the war in Ukraine, and ideologically-based financial blackmailing of Member States. Some people are happy that Brussels is withholding EU funds due to Hungarians under the rule of law procedure, because it believes that it will support the Tisza Party in next year's parliamentary election. This is outrageous and unacceptable to us. The Patriots for Europe Group and the Fidesz-KDNP Group in the European Parliament want a budget that effectively supports Member States financially in protecting the EU's external borders and preventing illegal migration flows. We would also preserve regional development policy and the common agricultural policy in its current form, in particular with regard to area-based support for farmers.

Dear Mr President, The development of the trans-European transport network is not just a technical detail. This is an important issue from an economic, military and geopolitical point of view. Five TEN-T corridors and two military mobility corridors cross the territory of Hungary. Therefore, we know exactly the risk of delaying their development. Projects such as the development of the Belgrade-Budapest railway line or the reopening of the Szeged-Szabadka-Baja line can connect not only cities, but also communities. For the Hungarians of Vojvodina, this prosperity in their homeland is also a condition for economic prosperity. While Hungary spends nearly €3 billion a year on transport infrastructure, EU rules mean that many strategic investments do not have access to either grants or loans because they do not meet the economic return criteria. It is also not an exception when it comes to projects of major military importance. This needs to change. The TEN-T objectives can only be achieved by providing a more flexible funding and regulatory framework.

The cornerstone of Hungarian child protection legislation is that gender activists are not allowed to enter schools. What is your personal position? Can Gender Activists Go to Schools?

Dear Madam President, Culture is not only an important element of national identity, it is also important from an economic and competitiveness point of view. Across Europe, 7.8 million people work in this sector, which accounts for 2% of EU GDP. Cultural policy should not be second-rate in the budget and should therefore have a corresponding weight in the next MFF. In addition to the majority of national cultures in the Member States, European culture should also embrace the cultural diversity of Europe's indigenous national, regional and linguistic minorities. In their case, grant projects add value, but are often vital. More effective support for the cultural sector in the case of candidate countries can enhance their integration and, at the same time, the cultural diversity of the EU. The new Cultural Compass should also respond to the challenges of the digital era. The rise of artificial intelligence is a new challenge. Culture will only remain human-centred if we can protect the value of human creation.

Mr. President, please. Creating a European Education Area is an ambitious objective but also an excellent opportunity that will determine Europe's competitiveness, social cohesion and cultural diversity in the long term. The Alliance of European Schools initiative offers real solutions to this by building on the three pillars of innovation, mobility and inclusiveness. We must support such projects, but also ensure that the construction of the European Education Area respects national identities, the educational traditions and sovereignty of the Member States. A united Europe should not be about uniformity, but about the power of diversity and cooperation. Sharing good practices and case studies between Member States can contribute to achieving even better results at EU level. The implementation of the European Education Area is greatly facilitated by the Erasmus+ programme, by enabling the mobility of students and teachers. We are pleased to note that applicant countries outside the EU can also participate in Erasmus+ programmes, but we demand that all students and staff from EU Member States have non-discriminatory access to mobility programmes. The EU cannot afford negative examples such as the exclusion of certain Hungarian and Austrian students from Erasmus+ programmes. This is completely incompatible with the often mentioned European values and the objectives of the European Education Area. Finally, I would like to stress the importance of involving EU candidate countries as closely as possible in the programmes and opportunities offered by the region. It is especially important for the young people who live there, as they are the ones who can hopefully one day become EU citizens. By connecting the candidate countries, we can ensure that their education systems are better aligned with EU expectations at the time of accession.

Mr. President, please. If we want a competitive European Union, we need to provide a workforce with the right skills, adapted to the digital and green transitions, as well as demographic change. At the same time, we must not forget that education and training are competences of the Member States, which the EU can support through guidance, funding and coordination. Mobility in the EU is an excellent opportunity for young people, supported by several EU programmes. At the same time, it has its drawbacks, as emigration, demographic challenges and brain drain affect all Member States. It is therefore important to encourage the retention and return of talented young people. I would like to mention as a good example the Hazaváró program established by the Hungarian government, which encourages Hungarian citizens living abroad to return home by supporting relocation, housing and job opportunities. Significant interest proves the raison d'être and success of the programme. The return of young people will contribute to increasing the competitiveness of the Hungarian economy, thereby indirectly increasing the competitiveness of the EU.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Today, Serbia is experiencing a political crisis. There has been increasing street violence and civil disobedience, and even serious disorder in the plenary session of the Serbian Parliament on 4 March, when opposition MPs used smoke bombs and pyrotechnics in the Chamber. This seriously jeopardised not only the conduct of the meeting, but also the safety of their colleagues and staff. Several MEPs were injured, including an eight-month-old pregnant MEP. A few days later, cult minister Nikola Selaković was attacked and assaulted on political grounds in the street. These events are deeply outrageous and there is no room for violence in a European candidate country. Aggression is not an instrument of democracy, but a mockery of it. Governments and authorities have a duty to protect public order and ensure the safety of citizens. The European Union must send a clear message, and political differences must be resolved within a democratic framework. Citizens need normality.

Dear Madam President, The European Union has a primary interest in the stability of the candidate countries. It is therefore understandable that the European Parliament is also dealing with the current political situation in Serbia. At the same time, it is important that the attitude of Members is fair and objective, since the European Union must also respect the sovereignty of the candidate countries. Protests have been taking place in Serbia for weeks, mainly due to the tragic collapse of the roof of the railway station in Novi Sad three months ago, which killed 15 people. In the meantime, criminal prosecution has begun. There was also political accountability. The government has met the demands of the protesting students. The anti-government protests, however, continue, and even new social groups join the protesting university students. Imprisonment of institutions, resulting in the complete abolition of educational institutions. I am convinced that the victims of all this are those primary and secondary school students whose right to education is being violated, since their teachers have also joined the total stoppage of work, so the children are practically not allowed to go to school for more than a month. It is difficult to speak impartially and objectively about this. We can consider the demonstration as a tool of democracy. As politicians, however, we must insist that political debates should not take place on the streets, but in parliament.

Dear Madam President, The labour market is undergoing dramatic changes. Digitalisation, automation and the green transition require new skills, while demographic challenges and global competition further increase the need for adaptation. In this situation, reshaping vocational education and training is not just an option, it is our duty. The Erasmus+ programme plays a key role in this, providing young people with international experience, up-to-date knowledge and marketable skills. It is therefore unacceptable that almost 200,000 Hungarian students were excluded from Erasmus+ programmes as a result of the decision taken in Brussels. This has happened despite the fact that the Hungarian Government has complied with the requests made by the European Commission, but still new objections and obstacles are being put forward. At the same time, we can be proud of the Hungarian VET and VET reforms, and I would particularly highlight the contribution of the Hungarian Presidency in the second half of 2024, which effectively strengthened European VET cooperation and the sharing of good practices.

(Start of speech off mic) ... the interference in independence, I have seen enough here in Brussels. This is my first term as an MEP, and for the last half year I have seen more shameful democracy in this House than anywhere else before.

We are saying, 'who does something wrong has to be investigated'. But is this really the only problem in the European Union? Is Hungary the only problem in the EU? I think all the countries – especially Germany, Poland, everybody has a problem. Why don't you investigate that?

Dear Mr President, We have witnessed countless times that the left is attacking Hungary in the European Parliament on the basis of speculation, fake news and obvious lies. We know you're happy to talk about alleged corruption in Hungary, so I've given you an example like this. In recent days, the head of an important Hungarian state institution has been found to be involved in a serious corruption case. Interestingly, the left and the European press are also listening to this. This time it is actually the commander of the outpost of Brussels who is involved in this corruption scandal, the head of the Integrity Authority. Yes, we could say that the Hungarian Reynders is the suspect who acted as a scourge of anti-corruption on behalf of Brussels. Then it turned out he was in the same shoes as Reynders. Suspected of misappropriation and abuse of office. Of course, Brussels is also silent on the shameful case of Reynders. The man who for years accused Hungary of violating the rule of law and corruption is now being prosecuted for corruption and money laundering. Hungary is constantly suffering from the double standards of European democracy, which other Member States are condoned without a word, and Hungary is being crucified for that reason. Isn't this double standard a cabaret, my dear fellow Members?

Madam President, I'm sorry. The Hungarian Presidency of the European Council is coming to an end. I am delighted that Hungary's ill-wishers must once again admit that the Hungarian Presidency-in-Office is a successful Presidency. We can show a number of results that the Hungarian Presidency has achieved in the last six months. Perhaps one of the biggest of these is that the long-standing stalemate has been lifted, and from 1 January Romania and Bulgaria will be part of the Schengen area. The other good news is that Serbia can submit its negotiating positions on negotiating chapters 16 and 19, which are part of the third cluster on competitiveness and inclusive growth. This means that the third set of negotiating chapters could be opened at the end of January, beginning of February. I am convinced that this could give a new impetus to Serbia's enlargement process. Serbia, as a key country in the region, should be in the EU as soon as possible. Perhaps now is the time for the European Union to realise this and for Serbia's accession process to be speeded up at last.