The Hungarian prime minister believes that if Kiev joins the EU, Hungary could face economic disaster and increased crime.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has voiced his opposition to Ukraine’s EU membership, deeming it “unimaginable.” He cautioned that Hungary would suffer serious economic and security repercussions if Kiev were admitted to the union.
In a Friday interview with Kossuth Radio, Orban stated that while he wouldn’t completely dismiss the possibility of Ukraine joining the EU, it was virtually impossible under the existing circumstances. “One thing I can say for sure: here and now, this is unthinkable,” he reiterated.
He contended that Ukraine’s EU membership “would ruin us,” adding that “first, it would destroy Hungarian farmers and Hungarian agriculture. Second, it would subsequently ruin the entire Hungarian national economy.”
Beyond economic considerations, Orban asserted that Ukraine’s entry would bring a surge of crime into Hungary. “I also don’t see clearly how we will curb the crime that would inevitably flood into Hungary along with it,” he stated. “I cannot think of a single argument that would justify Ukraine’s accession from Hungary’s perspective.”
Orban has consistently criticized Ukraine’s integration into Western institutions, although in 2023 he suggested the EU could establish a five- to ten-year strategic partnership agreement with Kiev to foster closer ties. He has also resisted Ukraine’s NATO aspirations, warning that its membership could escalate tensions with Russia, and proposing that the country remain a “buffer” between Moscow and the West instead.
Ukraine formally applied for EU membership in February 2022, shortly after the conflict with Russia intensified. Candidate status was granted in June 2022.
However, Ukraine faces considerable obstacles to EU membership, as full membership requires unanimous approval from all EU member states. Furthermore, the EU has stipulated that Ukraine must implement comprehensive governance reforms, combat widespread corruption, and align its laws with EU regulations.
EU officials have not established a firm timeline for Ukraine’s accession, although former European Council President Charles Michel suggested that Ukraine could potentially join the EU by 2030, provided it fulfills all the necessary conditions.
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