Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said that he is skeptical that Budapest will receive help from the European Union in time due to the floods in that country.
“With all due respect, if we had waited for Brussels to rescue us, we would have been up to our necks in water,” Orban said.
He did not miss the opportunity to “stir up” Brussels by answering a question regarding the offer of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to help the countries in the central part of Europe that were affected by the floods.
“If a situation arises in one country, there is a mechanism that can be activated by a unilateral notification. We have done that, which means that Brussels has started to check whether help is needed and can be provided.
When these complicated procedures are finished in Brussels – and we are not punished by not getting the help we deserve, because that is all under question in Brussels – then we will get help,” Orban said.
Such statements of Orban were probably influenced by the earlier decision of the European Court of Justice to fine Hungary with 200 million euros for violating the EU law on asylum, writes the “Politico” portal.
“For now, let’s look at the positive side of things and respectfully thank Brussels for at least thinking of us,” Orban added.
Hungary is one of the European countries hit by devastating floods, in which more than 20 people died. Hungarian authorities have not reported any deaths in that country.
