Viktor Orban warns European Union risks collapse without reform

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
23 Sep 2025 10:10
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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban compares the EU bloc to the decline of the Roman Empire, criticizing EU policies and leadership, while asserting that Hungary is better positioned to develop alongside the US and Asia.

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Hungary Prime Minister Viktor Orban, center, on the tribune during a World Cup 2026 group F qualifying soccer match between Ireland and Hungary at the Aviva stadium in Dublin, Saturday, September 6, 2025 (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban warned that the European Union is on the brink of collapse due to its inability to change, drawing a comparison to the decline of the Roman Empire.

Speaking in the Hungarian parliament, he said the EU lacks the capacity for renewal and risks losing relevance if it fails to make a sharp turn.

"I must say that I do not see in the European Union the capacity for renewal we need," Orban stated. "If the EU does not urgently make a sharp turn, its history will come to an end."

He clarified that such a collapse would not be sudden but gradual, as more member states drift away from Brussels’ directives. According to Orban, this process would resemble the Roman Empire, which continued to claim influence over lands it no longer controlled.

Orban contrasted Hungary’s trajectory with that of the EU, insisting that Hungary has the strength, knowledge, and capacity to develop at the pace of the US and Asia. "I see the US and Asia moving forward alongside us. And I see Hungary's ability, strength, and knowledge to develop faster," he said.

Criticism of EU policies and leadership

The Hungarian leader accused Brussels of acting “like a bad GPS navigator” that constantly changes course without reaching its goals. He cited sanctions, migration policy, and the green transition as examples of failed strategies.

Previously, Orban argued that if the EU continues its current economic path, it will collapse from within. He maintained that leaving the union is unnecessary because it may disintegrate on its own within two to three years unless radical change takes place.

For this, he called for a shift from liberal leadership in Brussels to governments with what he described as patriotic values.

Beyond the European Union, Orban has repeatedly claimed that the 500-year era of Western domination is coming to an end. He argued that the global economy has shifted eastward, and the next century will belong to Eurasia. In his view, the liberal world order has collapsed, and only countries that uphold their values and maximize their potential will thrive.