BUDAPEST, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Hungary has voiced strong opposition to the European Union's (EU) draft budget for the next seven-year cycle, citing concerns over significant reductions in cohesion and agricultural funding.
In a statement posted on social media on Wednesday, Prime Minister Viktor Orban criticized the draft budget, calling it a "dramatic" shift in priorities. He warned that farmers across the EU, including Hungary, could face substantial subsidy cuts, which could negatively impact food security and rural livelihoods.
"The situation is dramatic. The biggest winner in the latest Brussels plan is Ukraine, as the Commission has earmarked a huge amount of money for the country," Orban said
EU farmers could end up in a particularly tough spot, as it seems Hungarian farmers, alongside their European counterparts, might receive significantly less support in the future, he added.
Gergely Gulyas, head of the Prime Minister's Office, described the draft as "unacceptable" at a press briefing on Wednesday. He said the proposal would allocate 88 billion euros (102 billion U.S. dollars) to Ukraine, with a further 190 billion euros planned to support the country's accession process.
According to Gulyas, the scale of funding raises concerns about the redirection of resources away from EU member states.
Farmers' organizations in Hungary echoed the government's concerns during a joint demonstration held in Budapest by Magosz and the National Chamber of Agriculture (NAK).
Istvan Jakab, head of Magosz, stressed that Brussels must not overlook farmers when making decisions that affect their future.
NAK President Zsolt Papp warned that the proposed changes could jeopardize Hungary's markets and trigger an influx of products, undermining local producers and rural communities. (1 euro = 1.16 U.S. dollar) ■
