PM Orbán: Europe needs strategy not tactical responses

The European Union needs a strategy for dealing with emerging problems, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said at an online international conference on Wednesday.

Orbán told the Uncensored Europe conference that in times of crisis the EU had reacted to unfolding events tactically rather than following a strategic approach. Proactive and strategic thinking is needed, he said, adding that the challenges included strengthening the bloc’s economic performance and competitiveness.

The prime minister said that hopefully the European People’s Party would drive the development and implementation of a new European strategy.

Orbán said

Europe was “in retreat”, arguing that the continent was underperforming in terms of its reproduction rate, defence spending and its weight in the global economy.

Furthermore, he said, the balance of power in Europe had shifted, pointing out that 30 years ago the French-German axis had been the dominant force, while Britain had represented the Europe of nations. This provided a balance that remained intact even when the central European countries joined the EU, he said.

But today France is in serious debt, the United Kingdom has quit the bloc and Germany is again the strong member state everyone looks to for solutions “whenever things get tough”, Orbán said.

“This is the new reality of power in Europe.”