“During my time as prime minister, a role I held between our two presidencies, I have had a unique vantage point from which to witness the erosion of Europe’s competitiveness,” Orbán said.

He said he had been “fortunate enough to know the great architects of the European integration of the 1990s,” making special mention of Helmut Kohl. Quoting the former German chancellor, Orbán said that Kohl once remarked: “We all need Europe in order to remain competitive on the world markets,” adding that “his words have never been as relevant as they are today”.

“The loss of the EU’s competitiveness has been a growing tendency in recent decades,” the prime minister said. “This decline can be attributed primarily to misguided Brussels decisions that go against the realities of the world economy.”

He said that “Europe has become a far less attractive investment destination, even prompting European companies to consider relocating to other markets,” and noted Hungary’s experience, which he said “shows that economic success requires competition and a business-friendly environment”.

“We aim to negotiate a new competitiveness deal to relaunch European economic expansion, while promoting an open economy and international co-operation,” he said.

Orbán concluded the article by underlining Hungary’s belief “that a competitive Europe serves the interests of all member states”. “Hungary is gearing up for an exceptionally active EU presidency. It’s time to set aside ideological disputes and kick-start Europe’s engine. Let’s make Europe competitive again.”

Orbán Asks Zelensky to Consider Ceasefire

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, visiting Kyiv on Tuesday, asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to consider a ceasefire tied to a deadline.

At a joint press conference with the Ukrainian president, Orbán thanked his host for the invitation, noting that they had agreed to today’s talks in Brussels last Thursday.

He said it was his first foreign trip after Hungary assumed the European Union’s presidency, adding: “Peace is important not only for Ukraine but for the whole of Europe.” Orbán said he appreciated Zelensky’s initiatives aimed at creating peace, but added that those initiatives would take a long time to come to fruition.

“The ways of international diplomacy are slow and complicated … I put it to the president that we should consider whether the order may be reversed by speeding up peace talks with a quick ceasefire,” he said.

“A ceasefire tied to a deadline, which could offer the opportunity to accelerate peace talks; I have assessed the options for that scenario,” he added.

Orbán said he had cleared those issues up with Zelensky, adding he was grateful for the honest talks and answers.

He said he would prepare a report for the European Council “that could be a baseline for the necessary European decisions”.

Orbán: Hungary 'at Ukraine’s Disposal' During EU Presidency

Hungary is “at Ukraine’s disposal” during its six-month presidency of the European Union and will help the country wherever it can, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán told a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Tuesday,
wishing Ukraine success.

Orbán said he had come to Kyiv to achieve progress in bilateral ties. He called the talks constructive, adding a meeting had been long overdue in view of the many issues needing resolution, “over which we have negotiated and debated a lot in the past years”. “We are trying to put the debates of the past behind us and concentrate on the period ahead of us,” he said.

Orbán said he wished that ties between Hungary and Ukraine were much better, and Hungary wanted to sign a comprehensive cooperation agreement with Ukraine, similarly to many of its other neighbours. Hungary is also willing to take part in the modernisation of the Ukrainian economy, he said, adding that the process required a regulated framework.

Regarding the situation of the ethnic Hungarian minority in Ukraine, Orbán said he saw a chance for progress. He welcomed Zelensky’s proposal to set up a Ukrainian school in Hungary. Hungary will fund the schools, “and set up as many as necessary.

If there’s need for one, then one, and if there’s need for ten, then ten”, he said. Ukrainians have always been present in Hungary, which also has a Ukrainian minority self-government, he said.

At the same time, there are many more now with the influx of refugees, he added. Those families need care, work, a livelihood and security, and the children need adequate schools and good teachers, he said, adding it was important that Ukrainians in Hungary felt at home there.

Orbán: Talks Aimed to Gauge Zelensky’s Stance

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said that during his recent visit to Kyiv he had not aimed to convince President Volodymyr Zelensky but "gauge the limits of Kyiv's stance regarding the peace process".

Orbán said in a video interview to conservative Swiss daily Weltwoche on Wednesday that during the talks, he had aimed to leave behind “the not too flourishing ties” of recent times between the two countries, and concentrate on the future.

He said he had talked about the large Hungarian community in Ukraine, and suggested that Ukraine put forward an action plan that would be beneficial for Ukraine’s negotiations in the EU accession process as well as for the Hungarian minority.

Orbán said he had not tried to “convince” Zelensky, nor had he made proposals. He said he had aimed to clarify Zelensky’s “position and limits when we speak about peace”.

Orbán said that as the head of the country holding the European presidency, he was planning to prepare a report on “the possibility of peace” for the European Council.

He therefore asked Zelensky to first start a ceasefire to speed up negotiations, he said. Orbán said Zelensky “was not very happy with the idea … but he understood Hungary’s position”.

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