Development of defence industry a priority of Hungarian EU presidency

Less than six months before the start of Hungary’s European Union presidency, the bloc’s defence policy is focused on the development of the defence industry, the war in Ukraine and the security of the Sahel, the state secretary for defence policy and defence industry said after a meeting of EU defence ministers in Brussels late on Wednesday.

According to a ministry statement, Zsolt Kutnyánszky said participants had watched a video message from Rustem Umerov, the Ukrainian defence minister, asking for further support for Ukraine.

Several states’ representatives argued for the procurement of more ammunition and handing over “equipment in national reserves” to Ukraine, Kutnyánszky said.

At the same time, he said Hungary stood by its stance that it would not hand over or sell weapons or ammunition to Ukraine. The country “constructively abstained” last year, when the matter was voted on in the European Commission, he added.