Bloomberg: Merz criticises Orban as EU leaders clash over security plans in Copenhagen

On October 1, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz lashed out at Viktor Orban during a meeting of European Union leaders in Copenhagen, accusing the Hungarian prime minister of derailing discussions on the bloc’s security needs.

The dispute arose during talks on how the EU can better defend itself against Russian threats and support Ukraine, according to sources familiar with the exchange who spoke on condition of anonymity, Caliber.Az writes, citing an article by Bloomberg.

The quarrel underscores ongoing frustration within the EU over Orban’s repeated vetoes against sanctions on Russia and his opposition to Ukraine’s EU membership. The bloc is grappling with how to unify its defence strategy amid recent Russian airspace violations.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the need for a “strong and determined reaction” to recent drone threats, asserting that “every European citizen and every square centimetre in Europe has to be safe.” However, the Commission’s proposal to build a “drone wall” as part of a broader plan to expand EU military capabilities received a lukewarm response.

EU leaders agreed to revisit the discussion at another summit in Brussels in two weeks, where the Commission is expected to present a detailed roadmap for strengthening EU defenses through 2030. On October 2, the bloc’s leaders will be joined by heads of state from other countries for further talks.

By Khagan Isayev