Orbán’s relations with Brussels at boiling point

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had a tense exchange at the Strasbourg plenary on 9 October, after Orbán outlined his country's EU Council Presidency initiatives.

Orbán stressed the need for stricter migration controls, questioning the EU's approach to Ukraine. Von der Leyen responded with a strong defence of Europe’s military and financial support to Kyiv. The clash highlighted deepening divisions within the EU, as Orbán called for Commission neutrality, while von der Leyen criticised Hungary’s border control policies and its stance on the Ukraine conflict.

To take a deep dive into this topic, host Evi Kiorri spoke with László Andor, secretary general of FEPS and former Hungarian EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, and Inclusion, along with our politics reporter Nicoletta Ionta.

[Edited by Rajnish Singh]