V. Orban accuses U. von der Leyen of recklessly dragging the EU into a war

Viktor Orban accuses the President of the European Commission of irresponsible involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has publicly accused European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen of what he calls a failed and misguided strategy in the European Union's involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war. According to Orban, the European Union has taken hasty and ill-considered decisions which have not only failed to bring the expected benefits, but have also led to greater geopolitical tensions.

"The truth is that the European Union entered the Russia-Ukraine war irresponsibly, with the wrong calculations and the wrong strategy. I blame President Ursula von der Leyen for this," Orban said on social media.

This criticism is yet another example of the long-standing disagreements between Orban and the European Union on the policy of sanctions against Russia and support for Ukraine. Orban argues that the EU's current policies are not helping to address the underlying problems and are not creating stability in the region.

"Ursula von der Leyen's actions have only deepened the conflict", Orban added.

This statement drew a strong reaction from other European leaders who support the EU's strategy and believe that support for Ukraine is essential to resist Russian aggression and ensure peace in Europe. On the contrary, Orban proposes focusing more on diplomatic solutions and reducing regional military tensions.

Hungary faces EU sanctions for non-compliance with migration policy

Viktor Orban has previously expressed skepticism about the EU's sanctions policy and support for Ukraine. At the same time, however, Hungary is facing serious consequences from the European Union itself. The EU Court of Justice recently fined Hungary €200 million for failing to implement requirements for changes in migration policy regarding the reception of asylum seekers at the border.

The Hungarian government is still not complying with the 2020 court ruling and refuses to comply with the requirements. The country also has to pay a daily fine of €1 million until it complies with the rulings. If Hungary fails to pay this fine by the deadline, the European Commission can deduct the amount from the EU budget allocated to Hungary.

This legal conflict has arisen because of Hungary's strict migration policy, which does not comply with EU requirements. In 2020, the European Court of Justice ordered Hungary to change its reception procedures for asylum seekers, but the country has refused to comply with the ruling. Orban has repeatedly stated publicly that Hungary will not comply with the EU's policy on migration because, in his view, "illegal migrants are more important in Brussels than European citizens".

While the EU tries to force Hungary to follow the common rules, Orban continues to escalate his disputes with Brussels on migration and the rule of law and support for Ukraine.

Debate on Ursula von der Leyen's appointments to the EU institutions

In addition to migration and war issues, Ursula von der Leyen has recently faced criticism over her appointments to important EU positions. One recent example is the appointment of Greek archaeologist Anna Athanasopoulou to the Commission for Financial Planning and Digital Solutions. This decision has sparked controversy as critics argue that archaeology is not sufficient to lead the area of financial planning and digital solutions.

This is not the first time that U. von der Leyen's appointments have been criticized. Stella Kyriakides, a psychologist, was appointed to oversee the EU's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, while Sandra Gallina, formerly a translator, is currently in charge of public health and food safety.

Such appointments raise questions for critics about transparency and selecting the right experts for key European institutions, with potentially far-reaching implications for the quality and credibility of EU decisions.