Orbán: ‘If we wait for EU flood aid, we’ll be up to our necks in water’

Hungary’s Viktor Orbán is skeptical that his country will receive timely help from the EU following widespread flooding across Central Europe this week.

“With all due respect, if we waited for Brussels to bail us out, we’d be up to our necks in water,” the prime minister said at his government’s Thursday morning press conference. 

Hungary is the latest country to be affected by the devastating floods, which have caused at least 21 deaths in the region — although authorities in Budapest have not reported any casualties.

Orbán announced earlier this week that he had postponed his international commitments until the floods subside, including a European Parliament debate on Hungary’s presidency of the Council.

He did not, however, pass up an opportunity to biff Brussels when responding to a question about Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s offer to help countries in the region. 

“If a situation arises in a country, there is a mechanism that can be activated by a unilateral notification,” Orbán said. “We have done this, which means that Brussels has started to examine whether some kind of assistance should or can be provided.”

“Once these complicated Brussels procedures are over — and we are not punished by not getting the help we deserve, because these are all question marks in Brussels — then we will get support from Brussels.”

On 14 September — shortly after downpours started affecting the Danube basin — the EU’s Copernicus emergency rapid mapping service started providing actionable satellite imagery of the floods to Hungary, upon Budapest’s request.

Orbán’s acerbic remarks may have been influenced by an earlier decision by the European Court of Justice to fine Hungary €200 million for violating EU asylum laws. 

“For now, let’s look at the positive side of things and respectfully thank Brussels for at least thinking of us,” Orbán added.