Hungarian PM in Poland: A Tale of Two Nations, United by EU

Malta, August 2022 – Imagine, if you will, the bustling streets of Warsaw, Poland’s capital, not as they are today, but 13 years ago. The air is thick with anticipation, not just from the summer heat, but from the promise of change. Hungary, after a decade-long absence, is about to return to the European Union. Today, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is back in Poland, not as a newcomer, but as an old friend, marking this significant anniversary.

From Warsaw to Budapest: A Journey Through Time

In 2004, Hungary, along with Poland and eight other nations, joined the EU. But in 2011, Hungary’s EU presidency marked a turning point. It was the first time a former communist country held the presidency, a testament to the bloc’s eastward expansion. Now, a decade later, Orbán’s visit to Poland is a symbolic nod to this journey. It’s a reminder of how far these two nations have come, and how their paths have intertwined in the EU’s complex web.

Orbán’s visit coincides with Poland’s presidency of the Council of the EU, a role that rotates among member states every six months. The timing is no coincidence. It’s a chance for these two Central European nations to reflect on their shared history and look ahead to their common future.

Malta’s Connection: A Tale of Three Cities

Malta, with its own unique EU story, watches these developments with interest. Our island nation, like Hungary and Poland, has seen its fair share of political and economic transformation since joining the EU in 2004. We’ve seen our streets, once quiet and unassuming, fill with EU-funded projects. We’ve seen our economy, once reliant on traditional industries, diversify and grow.

Malta’s connection to this tale of two nations is more than just geographical. It’s in the stories of Maltese students who’ve studied in Budapest or Warsaw on EU-funded exchange programs. It’s in the Hungarian and Polish tourists who flock to our sunny shores each year. It’s in the Maltese businesses that trade with these nations, benefiting from the EU’s single market.

: Challenges and Opportunities

Orbán’s visit comes at a time when the EU is grappling with numerous challenges – from Brexit to the refugee crisis, from the pandemic to the war in Ukraine. These challenges, while daunting, also present opportunities. They’re a chance for nations like Hungary and Poland to step up, to lead, to shape the future of the bloc they helped build.

As we in Malta look on, let’s remember that our EU story is still being written. Let’s remember that our future, like that of Hungary and Poland, is intertwined with that of our European neighbors. Let’s remember that our voice, like theirs, matters. Because, after all, we’re not just Malta, Hungary, or Poland. We’re Europe.

Orbán, in a speech in Warsaw, echoed this sentiment. “We are not just two nations,” he said, “we are two chapters in the same book, two verses in the same song, two stars in the same European sky.”

So, let’s keep turning the pages, let’s keep singing our song, let’s keep shining our light. Because our EU story is far from over.