UPDATE - Hungary's Orban calls for EU reforms on migration, competitiveness, energy policy

UPDATED WITH REMARKS BY EU COMMISSION HEAD VON DER LEYEN; OTHER EDITS

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) - Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban highlighted migration, competitiveness, and demographic challenges as critical issues confronting the European Union in an address to the European Parliament on Wednesday.

“Over the past two decades, economic growth in Europe has been significantly slower (in Europe) than in China and the United States,” he said.

EU productivity is growing at a slower rate than its competitors, leading to a decrease in the bloc's share of global trade, he added.

Orban blamed rising energy costs on the reduction of imports from Russia and the ongoing green transformation.

Orban added that the EU is falling behind the US in research and development spending, fueling the bloc’s economic decline.

“These are very serious challenges and serious problems. However, at the beginning of the institutional cycle, I would like to make it clear that member states are waiting for very swift action from the EU institutions,” he stressed.

He continued: “We and member states want to see a reduction in the administrative burden. We want to see less regulation, energy security, a green industrial policy, strengthening the single market. And we also want to see a broadening of trade policy. Rather than forming blocks, we need to have more interconnectivity.”

On migration, Orban argued that the current migration framework within the EU fails to curb the influx of irregular migrants and needs revision, alongside efforts to enhance the external protection of EU borders.

“I think it's now time to deal with this at the highest political level, and whether we can reestablish the proper functioning with a political will to ensure the proper functioning of the Schengen area,” he stated.

Orban also advocated for “a merit-based, balanced enlargement policy” and the acceleration of accession processes for Western Balkan countries, especially Serbia.

- EU Commission head slams Orban's policy on war in Ukraine

Taking the floor after Orban, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen shot back at some of Orban's criticisms.

Especially on the Ukraine war, she said: "The world has witnessed the atrocities of Russia's war. And yet, there are still some who blame this war not on the invader but on the invaded."

"There is only one path to achieve a just peace for Ukraine and for Europe. We must continue to empower Ukraine's resistance with political, financial and military support," she added.

On competitiveness, she acknowledged the presence of barriers and obstacles harming the union's economy.

"We need to lower barriers for companies to grow across borders. And we will propose a new push to complete our Single Market, reduce burdens of reporting in sectors like finance and digital. This is the direction of travel to strengthen our competitiveness," she said.

On Russia’s role in Europe’s soaring energy prices, she said cutting energy imports from Russia was the right thing to do after Russia began its war on Ukraine in February 2022.

"But not everyone has acted on the Versailles commitments. Instead of looking for alternative sources, one member state in particular just looked for alternative ways to buy fossil fuels from Russia," she commented, apparently referring to Hungary.

But Von der Leyen agreed with Orban that migration is a profound challenge the union has to address.

"We all want to better protect our external borders. But we will only be successful if we work together against organized crime and show solidarity among ourselves," she said.