The Hungarian government will only be able to approve the European Union’s new seven-year budget if it serves the interests of Hungarian people and businesses, Prime Minister Péter Magyar told European Council President António Costa during a meeting in Budapest on Wednesday.
In a Facebook post following the meeting, Magyar said he had also told Costa that Hungary expected an early solution to the issue of the EUR 1 million-a-day fine imposed under the previous Hungarian government to be suspended.
According to Magyar, he also stressed that, particularly in light of events in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in Africa this summer, Hungary would continue to maintain the legal framework and physical border barrier needed to stop illegal migration.
“Hungary will continue to protect the European Union’s external borders. And we expect these efforts to be recognised at European level as well,” Magyar said.
The prime minister added that he had reiterated during the meeting that Hungary does not support an accelerated EU accession process for any candidate country.
Hungary opposes fast-track EU membership
The comments come as the EU prepares its next seven-year budget, with member states facing negotiations over how the bloc’s financial priorities and funding will be structured for the coming period.
Magyar’s remarks also show the Hungarian government’s position on migration and EU enlargement, signalling that Budapest intends to maintain its existing border protection measures while opposing what it considers accelerated accession procedures.
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