"European Future" Conference Begins in Budapest: Orban Challenges EU Strategy and Urges Rethink
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| Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban addresses EU parliamentary leaders at the "European Future" conference in Budapest, urging a strategic rethink amid shifting global dynamics and unresolved conflict in Ukraine. |
On May 12, 2025, Budapest became the center of European political dialogue as it hosted the Conference of Presidents of Parliaments of EU Member States, titled “European Future.” This high-level gathering brought together the heads of national parliaments from across the European Union, along with the President of the European Parliament. Among the participants was Ana Brnabić, the President of the National Assembly of Serbia.
The conference was officially opened by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Laszlo Kövér, the Speaker of the Hungarian Parliament. In their speeches, both leaders addressed the immense political and strategic challenges facing Europe today. Orban used the platform to make a bold and controversial assessment of the current geopolitical situation, particularly the war in Ukraine and the West’s response to Russia.
Orban openly criticized the Western strategy toward Russia, claiming that the goal of weakening Russia through sanctions and political isolation has failed.
> “The Western strategy aimed at crushing Russia did not succeed. Sanctions have not achieved their intended goal, and Russia has prevented Ukraine’s NATO membership,” he stated.
He went further, saying:
> “No one dares to say it out loud, but the truth is—we lost this war.”
He emphasized that despite this reality, Europe continues to behave as if victory is still possible, prolonging the conflict without adapting to new geopolitical truths.
According to Orban, the world is undergoing a profound transformation, one comparable in scale to the formation of nation-states and the Peace of Westphalia in the 17th century. He argued that the Western mindset is evolving, but Europe has failed to keep pace.
> “It’s as if we’re trying to solve the problems of the next decade using the solutions of the last one,” Orban remarked, adding that the old truths no longer apply.
He warned that Europe is unprepared for what lies ahead and must engage in strategic rethinking. Orban called on parliament leaders to hold serious dialogue on two key issues he believes will shape Europe’s future:
1. Protecting national sovereignty – safeguarding the power of national governments and parliaments in the face of growing centralized EU control.
2. Ukraine’s potential membership in the European Union – a decision that carries major political, economic, and security consequences for the entire continent.
Orban stressed that the Hungarian Parliament has always been a place of cooperation and strategic debate, and that Budapest is a fitting location for a forum that seeks to reshape Europe’s direction.
The conference aims to be more than symbolic—it is intended to serve as the highest platform for cooperation among national parliaments, setting long-term priorities for the future of the EU.