We will need a new European strategy in connection with Ukraine

We will need a new European strategy in connection with Ukraine in the wake of the Republican victory in the United States late Tuesday night-early Wednesday morning, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stated on Wednesday in Bishkek in a speech he delivered in the Turkic Council.

In his address, Mr Orbán said in the United States there had been a Republican victory, and "this lands us European leaders with the question" of whether Europe on its own will be able to maintain the present level of military and financial support for Ukraine.

"I have serious doubts about that, and so we will need a new European strategy," he said, adding that the first steps of this new strategy can be taken in Budapest, at the upcoming summit of European leaders.

In continuation, the Prime Minister said they expect 47 heads of state and government in the capital; this will be the biggest diplomatic event in the history of Hungary.

He said the most difficult question that will have to be tackled will be the future of the loan of EUR 50 billion for Ukraine which is to be financed by the European Union and the United States collectively on the basis of an earlier decision of the G7.

At the meeting, the Prime Minister also said Hungary's trade with the Turkic countries exceeded USD 5 billion last year for the first time. He added that last year for the first time more than 5,000 students applied for Hungarian university scholarship grants from the countries of the Turkic Council.

This year, the states of the Council have given a greater contribution to the security of Hungary's energy supply than ever before: Hungary has become the first non-neighbouring country to which Turkey supplies natural gas, and the first consignment of natural gas has also arrived in Hungary from Azerbaijan, he highlighted, also stating that the Hungarian oil industry company has started exploitation in the Kazakh field operated by it.

Mr Orbán further informed attendees of the meeting that Hungary had started the disbursement of USD 100 million, a commitment made by Hungary vis-à-vis the Turkic Investment Fund. "We sincerely hope that we will be able to welcome the investments of ever more Turkic companies to Hungary, and we, too, will take part in your economic growth in ever increasing numbers," he said.

He also highlighted that at the latest summit a decision had been made regarding the establishment in the European headquarters in Budapest of the Organization of Turkic States of a drought prevention institute where experts worked together in order to find answers to the emerging environmental challenges. The institute started the implementation of its first overarching programme, the purpose of which is a Hungarian-Kyrgyz-Uzbek university cooperation scheme with a view to the forestation of the Fergana Valley.

In the context of the current European situation, the Prime Minister said today there are two dominating debates in the European Union: one of them is about the war that has been ongoing for almost a thousand days now, while the other one is about the ever-intensifying decline in Europe's competitiveness. As regards the European debate about the war, there continues to remain a massive pro-war majority in the European Union, despite the fact that according to all military experts, the European strategy has already been defeated on the battlefield, he highlighted, pointing out in continuation that Hungary took over the rotating presidency of the European Union from July "and I started a peace mission; I'm grateful to President Erdogan for having helped my efforts." He added that the only result that had been achieved had been the fact that in Europe debates had started about how the war strategy could be changed to a peace strategy.

Mr Orbán also informed the attendees of the meeting that the new European Commission would be formed within a few days; elections were held in June, and they would like to set up a new commission by 1 December.

"I believe that we can't expect any meaningful change in Brussels' approach to the Turkic world. I believe that we must continue to prepare for a distant approach. I, however, urge the Presidents that we be as active as possible in our policies related to Brussels, and that we take all important issues there," the Prime Minister said.

In his words, Hungary pledges to represent these issues in the European political and economic debates, and the government supports all initiatives which seek to reinforce cooperation between the Turkic world and Europe. Regarding the EU's competitiveness, Mr Orbán said the competitiveness indicators of European economies are seriously deteriorating, and therefore the Hungarian presidency prepared a competitiveness pact which will be debated and - if these endeavours prove to be successful - adopted on Thursday in Budapest.

This competitiveness pact developed by the Hungarian government includes economic measures which would give the development of the European economy a powerful boost. "We sincerely hope that we will succeed," he said.

At the end of his address, Mr Orbán reminded members of his audience that they were expected to honour Budapest with their presence in the first half of next year at the next informal summit.