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Europe Today: Orbán győzelmet hirdet a feszült, Ukrajnára és Iránra összpontosító EU-csúcson
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Iratkozzon fel: Az Euronews elérhető 12 nyelven
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BŐVEBBEN : http://hu.euronews.com/2026/03/20/europe-today-orban-gyozelmet-hangoztatja-a-feszult-ukrajnara-es-iranra-fokuszalo-eu-csucso
Iratkozzon fel: Az Euronews elérhető 12 nyelven
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00:14Good morning, it is Friday the 20th of March. I'm Maeve McMahan and you're watching Europe
00:20Today, your daily dose of European news and analysis, live here on Euronews. Coming up
00:26after hours and hours of talks, a tense E summit in Brussels has come to an end. After over 12
00:33or 13
00:33hours of meetings inside the Europa building, leaders have called it a day. From a proposed
00:39loan to Ukraine to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, their agenda was packed, but war tone
00:44Ukraine's President Zelenskyy left empty-handed. Once again, the Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orban,
00:50blocked a 90 billion euro loan for Ukraine, holding up the deal over an oil dispute which
00:56between Budapest and Kyiv. EU Council President Costa was fuming. Leaders also discussed the
01:01spike in energy prices due to the ongoing escalation in the Middle East and the blockage of the Strait
01:07of Hormuz, but repeated that this is not Europe's war. But speaking on Euronews' special EU summit
01:13show, Trump's former security adviser, John Bolton, begged to differ.
01:18This is Europe's war. And to say, as some European leaders have, that it's not Europe's war
01:24is simply an invitation to Donald Trump to say, OK, fine, it's not Europe's war. And, you know,
01:31Ukraine, it's not America's war.
01:33For more, we can bring in our correspondent Shona Murray, who's been following every twist
01:38and turn of the long EU summit for us. Good morning, Shona. So John Bolton there saying
01:43this is Europe's war. EU leaders say it's not. Who's right?
01:49Well, two things can be true at the same time, Maeve. I think EU leaders can objectively say that this
01:54isn't actually their war. They weren't consulted. They're not party to the conflict. They're not
01:59sending military assets to intervene on either side. They're calling for de-escalation. In fact,
02:05some of them extoll the virtues of this potential war if it were to take out the tyrannical regime in
02:10Tehran. But at the same time, Europe has to deal with this war, potentially migratory routes towards
02:16Europe. And also, moreover, the implications being the skyrocketing gas and oil prices that are
02:22definitely hitting the European economy. So problematically, it is Europe's war. Now, yesterday,
02:27we heard some European leaders, including Japan, say that they'll try to chart a way forward to
02:33securing the Strait of Ormuz, potentially diplomatically, because they ruled out sending any sort of military
02:38mission. In addition, John Bolton is also right, because if Europe decides to, let's say, condemn
02:44or criticise Donald Trump for this war and the impact it's having on them, he may decide, well,
02:49I won't be selling any more weapons to Ukraine, and I won't be supporting Ukraine from a military
02:53intelligence perspective. So they have to tread carefully. Maeve? And Shona, yet another summit
02:59overshadowed by a Hungarian veto. And President Costa, we could see, visibly furious. Fill us in.
03:07Well, you know, we've been here before, Viktor Orban. He's been in power for 16 years, and he has
03:11blocked things at EU council level before. But this was the most confrontational and angry I've ever
03:18seen sort of EU leaders. Afterwards, people like the Swedish prime minister saying that this was
03:23full of anger, that the clashes were very bad. We had Friedrich Mertz, the German chancellor, saying
03:28that Orban was violating the very foundational principles of cooperation at EU level. Bart de
03:34Weyver, the Belgian prime minister, also making the point that he can't believe that Viktor Orban
03:38endorsed this loan before Christmas, and now he's not going to execute it. As we know, the whole idea
03:43is that Viktor Orban is saying he's blocking 90 billion euros for Ukraine, unless the Druzba pipeline
03:48passaging Russian oil to Slovakia-Hungary is fixed. So last night, Antonio Costa, the president of the
03:56European Council, was asked about this by our own colleague Jorge, and he responded in very strong
04:01terms, essentially accusing Orban of blackmail.
04:04The leaders take the floor to clear condemn the attitude from Viktor Orban to remember that once a deal,
04:16a deal is a deal, and all the leaders need to honour their word. And nobody can blackmail the European
04:25Union Council. Nobody can blackmail the European Union institutions.
04:31Antonio Costa, president of the European Council there, making the point that there has to be some
04:35sort of resolution to this. But at the same time, Maeve, Viktor Orban has successfully blocked this loan.
04:42There's a consensus also, Maeve, that he's in the middle of an election cycle, a general election,
04:47and he's using this as a sort of a soapbox to speak to the Hungarian voters back home, that he's
04:52a sort of a
04:52strong man that has huge control at EU level. And in that way, he'd be right. Maeve?
04:57Well, indeed, those elections, Shona, taking place on the 12th of April, what's at stake here?
05:03Well, I mean, for Viktor Orban, lots at stake for European Union, lots at stake, particularly for Ukraine,
05:09because Viktor Orban has made it his business to block not just the 90 billion euro loan,
05:13but he's also blocking the passage of the Ukraine, becoming a member of the European Union.
05:18And he spoke to our Europe Today editor, Maria Tadeo, last night, and he accused the European Union
05:25of actually meddling in the Hungarian elections, saying that they're trying to push, that there's an actual policy
05:30to push him out of government. Now, remember, he is trailing in the polls, and the opposition leader,
05:35Peter Mayor, is doing very well in the rural constituencies, which are key for Viktor Orban.
05:39But take a listen to that conversation last night.
05:42Here in Brussels, many of them, especially EPP, think that the only way out of this situation is that
05:49the national government lose the election and the pre-Ukrainian government will be formed.
05:54This here is not just a hope, it's a programme, may I say.
05:57Even they finance the Hungarian opposition from here.
05:59It's Ursula von der Leyen. You say they have a programme. Who is the programme?
06:03And would you add Ursula von der Leyen once you are out of government?
06:06All the European institutions, including parties and the Commission,
06:11would like to have a change in Hungary of the government, and they finance it, yes.
06:15Viktor Orban there, speaking to our Maria Tadeo.
06:17And before that, of course, Euronews' Shona Murray giving a very comprehensive update
06:21on that EU summit last night.
06:23And, of course, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also joined those talks via a video link
06:28to discuss the ongoing situation in his country and the fact that his country
06:31will suffer dearly without this loan.
06:34Last month, we saw the IMF had to disperse $1.5 billion to keep the country running.
06:39For more on The View from Kiev, I'm joined here in the studio by Euronews' Ukraine correspondent,
06:44that is Sasha Vakilina.
06:45So, another very tough summit for Ukraine with Antonio Kosta very, very angry,
06:50a man who's normally very mild-mannered.
06:52Indeed, and Volodymyr Zelenskyy being very, very disappointed, Maeve.
06:57This was a rare occasion when Volodymyr Zelenskyy was not here at the council himself in Brussels.
07:01He only connected, as you say, on the video link.
07:04This is not something that we're used to while covering the EU councils here.
07:08Apart from the €90 billion loan, there is another step that Hungary is blocking
07:14is the new package of sanctions against Russia.
07:18So, all of that, this is an impasse that we're in now.
07:21And Viktor Orban, you know, insisted that he's not going to move anyway,
07:25that he's not going to change his mind or have any sort of change of heart
07:29until the moment that the oil is flowing through Druzhba, the pipeline that was damaged
07:35by the Russian attack at the end of January, and which both Ukraine and the European Union
07:40promised to fix.
07:42Let's take a listen to what Viktor Orban had to say.
07:45We would like to get the oil which is ours from the Ukrainians,
07:48which is now blocked by the Ukrainians.
07:50I will never support any kind of decision here which is in favour of Ukraine.
07:54Still, the Hungarians are not able to get the oil which belongs to us.
07:58Viktor Orban insists that the oil is blocked by Ukraine and the Ukrainians.
08:04Not because of the Russian attack on the pipeline infrastructure.
08:09Now, Wladimir Zelenskyy indeed was very disappointed when he addressed the leaders
08:15and also when he delivered his usual and traditional evening address.
08:18But he did insist that he hopes that the European leaders will find the solution
08:23and will find a way to unblock this loan for Ukraine.
08:27This is what he said.
08:30We are confident that Europe will stand by us and find a way to deliver on what has already
08:38been agreed.
08:39I would like to thank every leader who stands with us on these issues because this is a
08:44matter of protecting the lives of our people and safeguarding normality.
08:49And Sasha, how will Ukraine now manage without this money?
08:54Ukraine will have to find the solution, but also the timeline is very interesting
08:58because there's not much time left now.
09:00Ukraine will be running out of money with this big financial hole looming.
09:04In just a couple of weeks, Kiev said that they might find the solution to stretch it a little
09:09bit, but not too much.
09:11Ukraine's finance minister spoke to European news as well during the summit.
09:17And this is what he said about Kiev's way forward.
09:20It's definitely not welcoming news from Brussels, but I think that all our counterparts and countries
09:31which support Ukraine are doing their best to secure Ukraine's financial needs for next
09:37two years.
09:38That's why I'm confident enough that rather sooner than later, we will be able to get
09:43access for this 90 billion euro.
09:45The sooner the better for Ukraine, but also for the European Union regarding delivering
09:50its promise and already the decision that has been agreed upon in December.
09:54Now, not a single decision when it comes to aid for Ukraine from the European Union is
09:57an easy one.
09:58There are always like consultations and talks and rounds and rounds of negotiations.
10:02So this is why it's specifically disappointed.
10:04Regarding the timeline, though, for Druzhba Pipeline.
10:08Now, it is expected to be fixed the earliest in the second half of April.
10:14Now, the question is, how much time will it take from that moment onwards for Hungary, past
10:19the elections, of course, to unblock the package and unblock that loan?
10:24It's pretty gripping.
10:25Whatever happens, of course, we will report it.
10:26Sasha Vakilina, thank you so much for that update.
10:29Now, you might remember that this EU summit was actually meant to focus on competitiveness
10:35and boosting the European economy.
10:37An EU leaders' retreat in February had actually set the scene.
10:40EU leaders want to deepen the single market, make it easier for startups and scaling up
10:44across EU borders.
10:46In our special summit show last night, EU News Editor Maria Tadeo spoke to the former Italian
10:51Prime Minister Enrico Letta, the author of that famous paper, One Europe, One Market.
10:55It was supposed to be the European Council for competitiveness.
11:00The European leaders, they have to intervene on both sides.
11:05Immediate interventions to lower the cost of energy today, but they have to continue working
11:11on implementing the reports on how to strengthen European economy, integrating the single market,
11:18creating this plan, One Europe, One Market, that is for the next months and next years.
11:24The main problem with Trump, you know, is Trump is setting the agenda every day in a different
11:30way.
11:31The European leaders, they have to be very, very focused on their own agenda that is
11:36fundamental.
11:37So a bit of a cold shower there from Enrico Letta, reminding EU leaders that despite the
11:42fact that their summit was derailed by ongoing crisis, in a world dominated by President Trump
11:47and geopolitical competition, Europe needs to respond fast by completing the single market,
11:52which allows, of course, the free movement of goods, capital and services and people.
11:57EU leaders also dived deep into the topic of ETS.
12:00That's a huge chunk of Brussels climate policy that aspires to make big polluters pay.
12:06If you haven't heard of ETS, our Jakob Janos has you covered.
12:11Spring is coming to Brussels, but all your reporter hears when he goes outside is...
12:16ETS.
12:16ETS.
12:17ETS.
12:18ETS.
12:18ETS.
12:19ETS.
12:20ETS scheme.
12:21And that is because 10 EU countries are in open revolt against the bloc's flagship climate
12:26policy.
12:26But hold on.
12:27What actually is the ETS?
12:29And why is there such a massive backlash against it?
12:34ETS, so emissions trading system, is essentially Europe's carbon market.
12:38And it works on a simple polluter pays principle.
12:42Heavy industries, power plants and airlines must buy allowances to cover the carbon they
12:47emit into the atmosphere.
12:49It is used for two main goals.
12:52To force companies to cut their greenhouse emissions.
12:55And to push them to invest in sustainable green technologies.
12:59In the last 20 years, the ETS has slashed greenhouse gas emissions by 39% and has generated
13:06over 260 billion euros to fund clean energy.
13:10But 10 member states, including Italy, Poland and Austria, say the system is moving too fast.
13:17Italian industry minister Adolfo Urso even called the ETS a tax with a perverse effect,
13:23warning it prevents Europe from competing globally.
13:27And critics argue that with energy prices already soaring from the war in Iran, adding
13:33high carbon costs creates an existential risk for European businesses.
13:37And here is an example.
13:39The chemical sector alone reports that over 100 facilities have shut down, wiping out 75,000
13:45jobs.
13:46And that is why Italy is pushing to suspend the system entirely.
13:50And the rest demand the EU extend free carbon allowances beyond 2034.
13:56Look, I know all of that sounds a bit technical, but one thing is clear.
14:00The energy transition is no longer just a climate goal.
14:04It has become a battle for European security and industrial survival.
14:13Jakob Janis reporting for us there.
14:16And now to talk us through the dramatic summit yesterday that raises more questions now than
14:20answers.
14:20We're joined here on set by Hildegard Bentela, the senior German Conservative member of the
14:25European Parliament from the CDU party.
14:27Thank you so much for joining us.
14:29So quite a night there.
14:30Pretty rough for Ukraine.
14:31What's the plan B now?
14:35Well, for the time being, we need more consultations now.
14:42Well, nobody expected this kind of outcome.
14:46But I think, you know, there was the offer to inspect the pipeline, maybe, you know, which
14:51was not, you know, well perceived because Slovak and Hungarian participants couldn't attend.
14:57So maybe there's another attempt, you know, to bring Victor Orban on board.
15:01So when you say nobody expected this outcome, you mean nobody expected that veto last night
15:04from the Hungarian prime minister?
15:06I think not to that extent.
15:08So this is why we do not have yet a plan B and, you know, leaders left without, you know.
15:15And are you furious also with Victor Orban the same way Antonio Costa was?
15:21Yes, of course.
15:23But I think it's a tactic we know.
15:25So and this is why I mean, you know, there were some difficulties at the beginning.
15:30And this is, I think, why the presidential commission reached out, you know, with this
15:33idea to inspect the pipeline.
15:35And as we know, it didn't went well.
15:36If it had gone well, maybe, you know, the outcome was would have been different to accommodate.
15:42Indeed, because this should have been done months ago.
15:44Exactly.
15:44The war in the Middle East, it's entering now its 20th day.
15:47What is the EU doing to stop it?
15:49And is this Europe's war?
15:51Well, it's not from the beginning Europe's war.
15:54And Israel didn't ask, you know, for EU participation.
16:00We now see the effects, the economic effects of the war.
16:04But I would also think we need some strategic patience because we are in the third week.
16:10I expect it ongoing for two or three more weeks.
16:14But then, and this was also seen from the leaders of the Gulf, you know, they are also very furious
16:19about Iran.
16:20And I think there will be a reshaping of the Middle East.
16:23And, you know.
16:24Do you support the war?
16:26Do you support what Israel is doing now, especially in Lebanon?
16:28Well, supporting is said too much, but I think it's a huge, I understand the opportunity for
16:37Israel because now to fight Hezbollah, what Lebanon leaders also want to do, the Lebanese
16:43army wants to do, it is a big opportunity to throw back Hezbollah strongly because now they lack
16:53the support of Iran.
16:55And I think, you know, this could reshape really the relations between Lebanon and Israel.
17:00And this would, you know, bring a lot of more security to Israel, which was the problem all the
17:05time.
17:06But are you concerned that one million people now are displaced in Lebanon?
17:09Sure, I mean, the war always brings displaced people with it.
17:13But we also have to remind that there are thousands of displaced Israelis in the north
17:18of Israel because they were attacked constantly for the last two years from Hezbollah.
17:23So Hezbollah took the opportunity after the attack of Hamas to attack also Israel very strongly.
17:30So this is an escalation which took place over the last two years.
17:33And I do understand that's a whole concept.
17:36It's not only throwing back Iran's nuclear and ballistic missiles, but also the immediate
17:40threat through terror organizations, which aggress Israel every day.
17:45And another big topic this week, your party celebrated 50 years with a big celebration that
17:50was overshadowed by the big scandal facing Manfred Weber, your boss, for working very closely
17:55with the far right.
17:56Should Manfred Weber resign, do you think?
17:58Oh, no.
17:59No, of course not.
18:00But we should have a very clear line regarding the ESN, because this is mainly constituted
18:05of AFD members.
18:07So we have a very clear strategy not to work with them.
18:12And we should not do this on any levels if it's true.
18:15But he did it.
18:16Yeah.
18:16But he said also it's not needed in numbers and it's not needed in content.
18:20And we should be very clear about that and show that they are not needed and have no influence
18:24on our politics.
18:25Apart from the WhatsApp group, is there more encounters taking place with the AFD?
18:28Dinners, lunches?
18:30Not that I know.
18:31And I think I'm one of those who, you know, is very much asking for a very, very strict
18:36line.
18:37And I think we should, we will discuss this in the next group meeting.
18:40And I'll be a strong supporter of keeping this very clear, clear red line.
18:44And I think it should also be acceptable for other members.
18:47But it just finally did it dampen the mood at the big party this week?
18:51Well, I mean, it's a very German issue.
18:53I think it was not reported on, you know, in other countries.
18:57So maybe that's, well, it's being reported here on Euronews live to the world.
19:01And Ms. Bente, thank you so much for coming into us here on Europe Today on Euronews.
19:05Take care.
19:06And that, of course, brings this edition of Europe Today to an end.
19:10Thank you so much for tuning in.
19:11You can read more about any of the stories we're covering and, of course, more in-depth
19:14analysis on that EU summit on Euronews.com.
19:18Thanks again for tuning in.
19:19Take care and see you soon on Euronews.
19:30See you soon on Euronews.
19:53See you soon on Euronews.
19:56See you soon on Euronews.
19:58See you soon on Euronews.
20:00See you soon on Euronews.
20:01See you soon on Euronews.
20:02You
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