A debate took place today in Strasbourg with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on the action plan for Hungary’s six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union. The discussion, which was also attended by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, included PiS MEPs Adam Bielan and Beata Szydło.
Adam Bielan stated: “I think everyone can see now just how dire the state of the European Union is, since even President Macron is warning of its demise.” He noted that the EU economy is undergoing systematic degradation as a result of the “ideology of climateism.” “The Green Deal, disastrous migration policy, and anti-democratic, treaty-violating pressure toward centralization are lowering citizens’ standard of living,” he emphasized.
According to Bielan, these issues require fundamental change, which is why it is very positive that the Hungarian presidency has placed the restoration of the EU economy’s competitiveness at the top of its priorities. “A revision of climate policy, including emissions trading, deregulation, and increasing productivity and innovation are simply a necessity,” he noted. Adam Bielan emphasized that a return to common sense is also necessary in other areas identified as priorities by the Hungarian presidency.
“EU agriculture must be seen as a guarantor of our food security, not merely as a burden that produces carbon dioxide. And cohesion policy must remain, above all, an instrument for bridging the gap between the richer and poorer regions of the EU,” the PiS MEP noted.
Furthermore, Bielan noted that, in the context of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, there is an urgent need to increase defense spending and rebuild production capacity in this sector. He emphasized that security will not be ensured by so-called “strategic autonomy,” but rather by a strong NATO and a close alliance with the U.S.
The Polish MEP referred to remarks by the European Commission president, who emphasized the need for Europe to become independent of energy resources from Russia. “One might say: ‘words of wisdom.’ But we Poles remember who built Putin’s most important gas pipeline—Nord Stream—which makes Europe dependent on his gas. It was successive German governments, including the one in which you served as a key minister for over four years. Meanwhile, without your Nord Stream, there would be no war in Ukraine and no hundreds of thousands of victims,” Bielan noted.
Beata Szydło pointed out that this was supposed to be a debate on the priorities of the Hungarian presidency—the economy, security, combating unemployment—and on “what is most important to Europeans today.” “Instead, this debate has turned into a trial of Hungary and its government, which was democratically elected by the sovereign Hungarian people,” she noted. The PiS MEP was highly critical of the European Commission President’s remarks. “No one has given you the authority to critique the independent governments of sovereign states. And I would like to remind you that the European Union is made up of sovereign states, and Ms. von der Leyen is not the queen of Europe,” – emphasized the former head of the Polish government. Beata Szydło also pointed out the significant disconnect between mainstream politicians’ declarations regarding democracy and the rule of law, and their actions when these issues are raised by their political allies. “Look at what’s happening in Poland right now—the rule of law is being violated at every turn. Are you talking about this? Does it bother you? No, because your colleague—Donald Tusk—is currently the Polish prime minister,” stated the MEP.
