Friedrich Merz was directly on Viktor Orban at the summit of European leaders. What the German Chancellor reproached him
The Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban, Slovenia Prime Minister Robert Golob, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, during the EU-state-of-the-art head and government summit in Brussels, Belgium, on July 26, 2025.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was criticized on Wednesday on Viktor Orban during the Copenhagen meeting of the leaders of the European Union, accusing the Hungarian prime minister of deliberately delaying the discussions on the security needs of the Community block, writes Bloomberg.
The confrontation took place during a discussion about how the EU can defend itself better against Russian threats and can support Ukraine, according to people familiar with the exchange of opinions between the two leaders, who spoke under the protection of anonymity.
The quarrel between Orban and Merz is the latest sign of EU frustration to the Hungarian prime minister, who has exercised his veto right to block sanctions against Russia and vehemently opposes Ukraine's accession to the EU. The episode comes at a time when the community block struggles to unite around the plans to rebuild its defense, against the backdrop of a series of air space by Russia in recent months.
A German spokesman refused to comment on the incident, while a Hungarian official did not respond immediately to a request sent by Bloomberg to provide a point of view.
The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, stressed after the meeting that the recent drone threats “require a strong and determined response from Europe”, mentioning that “every European citizen and every square centimeter must be safe.”
But the proposal of the commission to build a “wall of drones”, included in a recent proposal to increase EU military capabilities, was received with reservations during Wednesday's discussion.
“Regardless of the capabilities we can purchase,” said Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, “there will be drones that will enter Europe.”
However, Frederiksen, who hosted the reunion, said he still supports the general concept.
“We totally agree that we have to invest much more in drone technology, in the fight against drones,” she added, “but also in new technologies and innovations.”
Italy and Spain have argued that the Commission's defense plans must help the entire continent to protect themselves, in addition to strengthening the EU flank.
Otherwise, the Defense of the EU will not be effective, the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni warned, on the way to the summit.
The President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, resumed this rhetoric, after the meeting. “The borders of Europe will be secured only if all the borders of Europe are safe,” said Costa.
European leaders have agreed to return to this topic of discussion at another summit, from Brussels, over two weeks, when the Commission, the EU executive forum, should present a roadmap to strengthen the EU by 2030.
“When I look at Europe today, I think we are in the most difficult and dangerous situation since the end of World War II,” Frederiksen told reporters on Wednesday.
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