‘EU is drowning in corruption,’ Orbán blasts Brussels

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has claimed that the European Union is “drowning in corruption,” criticising Brussels for failing to hold itself or Ukraine accountable amid recent scandals.

Orban made the comments on social media platform X, stating that EU commissioners face serious charges while both the European Commission and Parliament remain embroiled in controversies, yet continue to assert a moral high ground.

His remarks follow the detention of former EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and a senior European Commission official by Belgian authorities, at the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO). The investigation centres on whether confidential selection criteria for the EU Diplomatic Academy – a nine-month training programme for junior diplomats awarded to the College of Europe in 2021-2022 – were improperly shared before the tender was published.

Orban also criticised the EU’s handling of corruption in Ukraine, accusing Brussels and Kyiv of shielding one another. The comments come in the wake of Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies uncovering a scheme diverting at least $100 million from the energy sector, including state-owned nuclear company Energoatom, prompting senior resignations.

Addressing corruption is seen as crucial for Ukraine’s EU accession, with formal negotiations having begun in June 2024.

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