What Eszter spoke about.

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HU Written Statement

Foreign interference and hybrid attacks: the need to strengthen EU resilience and internal security (debate)

Foreign interference, in particular disinformation campaigns based on the dissemination of fake news, was a major concern ahead of the last European elections. According to a Eurobarometer survey published in December 2023, the spread of false information is considered by European citizens to be the biggest threat to our democracies. In the same survey, 63% of Hungarians replied that they often or…

9

Mar

2026

EN Speech

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Upcoming European Research Area (ERA) Act (debate)

Madam President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, 25 years ago, Europe launched an ambitious idea: the European Research Area, a common space where researchers, knowledge, technology and innovation could circulate freely across borders. Now take a moment and imagine a tree: its trunk is research – strong and visible – feeding the crown, where leaves grow and fruits appear: innovation. But beneath th…

20

Jan

2026

HU Speech

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Presentation of the Cybersecurity Act (debate)

Madam President, I'm sorry. The revision of the Cybersecurity Act is a very important step, promising more uniform rules and greater resilience. This is particularly timely as the European Union is facing ongoing hybrid threats. This situation is characterised by cyberattacks, sabotage and information manipulation from Russia, especially during the elections, as illustrated by the Romanian and Mol…

16

Dec

2025

HU Speech

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Grids package and tackling raising energy prices through robust infrastructure (debate)

25

Nov

2025

HU Speech

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Communication on the Democracy Shield (debate)

Dear Mr President, I also strongly support the European Democracy Shield and the establishment of a European Democratic Resilience Centre. The shield is a strategic, whole-of-society effort to strengthen our assessment of the situation, electoral integrity and democratic resilience. But I think we need to go further and we can go further. Information manipulation, influencing public opinion, comes…

8

Oct

2025

HU Answer

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United response to recent Russian violations of the EU Member States’ airspace and critical infrastructure (debate)

I would like to remind you that it was your government, the Hungarian Orbán government, that increased Russian oil imports from 60 percent to 85 percent from 2021 to 2024, and if these imports have increased, why have you not diversified? And my other question is, did you say...…

8

Oct

2025

HU Answer

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United response to recent Russian violations of the EU Member States’ airspace and critical infrastructure (debate)

Mr. Congressman. I would have liked you to ask me about hybrid attacks and how the Hungarian government has become increasingly pro-Russian in Hungary. You were the one who mentioned recently in your speech that by diversifying energy supply... (Mr András László interrupted the speaker)…

8

Oct

2025

HU Speech

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United response to recent Russian violations of the EU Member States’ airspace and critical infrastructure (debate)

Dear Madam President, Recent violations of EU Member States’ airspace and attacks on our critical infrastructure are not isolated incidents. They are part of a conscious, coordinated Russian campaign to test and weaken Europe. Together with disinformation campaigns, they are part of a hybrid strategy to undermine our security, unity and democracy. This campaign is no longer hidden in the shadows. …

10

Sep

2025

HU Speech

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Need for a strong European Democracy Shield to enhance democracy, protect the EU from foreign interference and hybrid threats, and protect electoral processes in the EU (debate)

Dear Madam President, Democracy is not a gift, we must protect it every day. Hungary's situation clearly shows the danger. Recently, Russian foreign intelligence accused the European Commission of preparing a regime change in Budapest and of supporting an opposition party, the Tisza. Hundreds of fake internet profiles spread disinformation, which was taken over by the Hungarian state news agency. …

8

Sep

2025

EN Speech

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Governance of the internet – renewal of the mandate of the Internet Governance Forum (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, honourable Members, the internet is a global common good, essential to our democracies, our economies and our daily lives. It must be safeguarded in the name of the public interest and we must insist that it remains open, free, global, interoperable, reliable and secure, governed for all and by all. We know the alternative: regimes where the authorities shut down intern…

18

Jun

2025

HU Speech

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Upcoming NATO summit on 24-26 June 2025 (debate)

Dear Madam President, NATO is the cornerstone of Europe's and Hungary's defence, while raising defence spending to 5% of GDP is at the expense of social and healthcare spending. We should only be committed if we are ready to recognise the threats that may affect us. While conventional military capabilities remain important, hybrid threats need to be taken equally seriously. We also need to strengt…

22

May

2025

HU Speech

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Choose Europe for Science (debate)

Madam President, I'm sorry. Europe leads in the number of scientific publications and international cooperation, but for global competitiveness we need more innovative, inclusive scientific ecosystems. The kind that attracts the most brilliant minds. First of all, we need to be an attractive place for the best researchers. This means predictable, long-term funding, a separate framework programme, …

7

May

2025

HU Speech

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Winning the global tech race: boosting innovation and closing funding gaps (topical debate)

Mr. President, please. The technology race is about the future of Europe. To be successful, we need to focus on the key drivers of innovation. I would like to highlight only two of them. First of all, the talents. STEM education and talent development should be a priority. We need to further train workers and promote brain drain, as does the Choose Europe initiative under Horizon Europe. We need t…

11

Mar

2025

HU Speech

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Clean Industrial Deal (debate)

Madam President, I'm sorry. The Clean Industrial Deal is an excellent opportunity for the EU and its Member States to provide affordable and green energy to high-priced industry. In Hungary, in my country, the government is happy to talk about the reduction of public utility charges, but at the same time it forgets that Hungarian businesses pay the fifth highest electricity bill in the European Un…

13

Feb

2025

HU Speech

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Threats to EU sovereignty through strategic dependencies in communication infrastructure (debate)

Dear Mr President, The system of our communication infrastructures provides the necessary conditions for the functioning of modern society, therefore its control and protection are of strategic importance. Many of the communication infrastructures depend on external actors, posing serious security and economic risks. Let's think about it. Most of our 5G networks and cloud services are not in Europ…

12

Feb

2025

HU Speech

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Competitiveness Compass (debate)

Dear Mr President, The Competitiveness Compass presented by the Commission is a major step forward in the history of European economic policy. This comprehensive package is a clear sign that the European Union has recognised that competitiveness is the foundation of our economic, environmental security and prosperity. However, the document needs to be further developed and refined in a number of a…

11

Feb

2025

HU Answer

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US AI chip export restrictions: a challenge to European AI development and economic resilience (debate)

This measure was indeed taken by the Biden government, but what I have referred to is Hungary's separate policy. He hopes for privileged relations with the Hungarian government, the Trump administration, and, for example, the introduction of a possible tariff would affect Hungary as well as the entire European Union. Given that we are part of a customs union, and you are very well aware of that.…

11

Feb

2025

HU Speech

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US AI chip export restrictions: a challenge to European AI development and economic resilience (debate)

Dear Madam President, US AI chip export restrictions could fundamentally jeopardise the functioning of the European single market and the EU's technological sovereignty. The new rules do not treat the European Union as a single market. France, Belgium and Spain will have unrestricted access to U.S. chips, while Poland, Portugal and Greece will only be able to import 50,000 of these vital component…

21

Jan

2025

HU Speech

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Geopolitical and economic implications for the transatlantic relations under the new Trump administration (debate)

Dear Mr President, Our relationship with the United States is a century-old partnership. Together we are the bulwarks of the democratic world and, by the way, we are facing a number of similar challenges. Trump's recipe for America's future is crude, but the problems are real. The world is in transition. While the new US administration aims to strengthen America's global leadership, voices in Euro…

25

Nov

2024

HU Speech

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International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (debate)

Dear Mr President, I want to show you a hand sign. Why is this important? In August, a special case occurred in Hungary that sheds light on how a simple gesture can save a life. A young woman asked for help from a clothing store salesman with a hand sign suggesting abuse, and the attentive salesman recognized the hand sign. She gathered the courage to signal in silence while the man who had abused…

8

Oct

2024

HU Speech

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The crisis facing the EU’s automotive industry, potential plant closures and the need to enhance competitiveness and maintain jobs in Europe (debate)

Dear Mr President, The rise of electric cars is an opportunity for the automotive industry to secure Europe's leading innovation potential. However, the rise of Chinese competitors presents a new challenge. While Europe must remain open to fair cooperation with China, the transition must not increase our excessive economic exposure. By contrast, the Hungarian government, which so proudly defends n…