JD 밴스의 오르반, EU, 헝가리에 대한 주장 팩트체크
JD Vance’s claims about Orbán, the EU and Hungary fact-checked
The Guardian
Jennifer Rankin in Brussels
EN
2026-04-09 15:15
Translated
미국 부통령이 EU가 국가 경제를 '파괴'하려 했다고 주장했으나, 헝가리는 실제로 EU 기금의 순수혜국헝가리의 중대한 선거를 앞두고 빅토르 오르반 헝가리 총리를 극찬한 가운데 부다페스트 방문 중 JD 밴스 미국 부통령은 EU가 자신이 본 "최악의 선거 개입 사례" 중 하나라고 주장했다.
화요일 오르반 총리 옆에 선 밴스 부통령은 "브뤼셀의 관료들은 헝가리 경제를 파괴하려고 시도했다. 헝가리의 에너지 독립성을 약화시키려고 했다. 헝가리 소비자들의 비용을 올리려고 했다. 그리고 그들은 모두 이 사람을 미워하기 때문에 이 모든 것을 했다"고 말했다.
During his visit to Budapest, where he heaped praise on the Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, days before the country’s decisive election, JD Vance claimed the EU was responsible for “one of the worst examples of election interference” he had ever seen.
Standing alongside Orbán on Tuesday, the US vice-president said: “The bureaucrats in Brussels have tried to destroy the economy of Hungary. They have tried to make Hungary less energy-independent. They have tried to drive up costs for Hungarian consumers. And they’ve done it all because they hate this guy.”
How do these claims stand up?
He probably meant the European Commission, which is responsible for drafting and enforcing EU law. The “bureaucrats of Brussels” is a longstanding Eurosceptic trope. Those who deploy it, like Vance, usually leave out the fact that EU law and policy is determined by 27 member states, mostly with the input of the European parliament.
Vance did not elaborate much on his claim. His most specific allegation was that “bureaucrats in Brussels” were imposing “digital censorship” and “telling” social media companies what information to give Hungarian voters. He did not offer any evidence.
His claim misrepresents EU law. Under the Digital Services Act, the EU has opened investigations into Meta, TikTok and X over a variety of concerns, but these inquiries, grounded in a tightly defined legal process, do not amount to “telling” companies what information they can give to groups of voters.
In contrast to Vance’s appearance on the Hungarian campaign trail, EU leaders have been at pains to avoid any comments that could be perceived as revealing a preference in the election.
Hungary has thrived since it joined the EU in the “big bang” enlargement of 2004. If in doubt, Vance could check the US government’s International Trade Administration (ITA), which reports that Hungary “boasts a strategic location in Europe [with] easy access to EU markets”, one of several factors that attracted a host of US companies, such as Coca-Cola and Microsoft, to set up operations there.
Over the last 22 years, Hungary has benefited hugely from EU funds. By 2018, more than 80% of Hungary’s public investment came from European funds intended to help poorer EU member states catch up with their wealthier neighbours.
Hungary remains a net recipient of EU funds, despite widespread concern over state corruption – an issue highlighted by the US ITA. About €18bn (£15.6bn) of Hungary’s EU funds have been frozen over concerns about issues ranging from judicial independence, discrimination against LGBTQ+ Hungarians, academic freedoms and the rights of asylum seekers. Approximately €1bn has been permanently forfeited.
Far from being singled out, the same standards apply to all EU member states. Hungary accepted these conditions.
Geopolitical shocks put up energy bills. Energy costs have risen across Europe since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with a further rise after the outbreak of the US-Iran war. That includes Hungary, where households have faced increasing gas prices.
The Orbán government has made energy a central campaign theme and blamed rising bills on EU sanctions on Russian fossil fuels.
The EU has pledged to phase out Russian fossil fuels permanently, despite opposition from Hungary. EU officials say Russia was never a reliable supplier, recalling when Moscow cut gas supplies in 2006, 2009 and 2014, an experience that affected millions of consumers, including in Hungary.
The Trump administration, which is hostile to renewable energy, appears to overlook that Hungarians benefit from some of the lowest electricity prices in Europe, thanks to an unheralded boom in solar energy production.
One of the most revealing claims from Vance was that the EU is motivated by spite, rather than law or policy: “They’ve done it all because they hate this guy.”
EU leaders are angry with Orbán. Patience snapped after the Hungarian prime minister revoked his support for a €90bn loan for Ukraine. Less than two weeks later, leaked audio appeared to expose Hungary’s foreign minister telling Moscow he would try to amend EU sanctions in Russia’s favour.
But if anything, Orbán has benefited from special treatment, such as a 2022 exemption to continue importing Russian oil. The commission has also been criticised by a senior EU legal expert for deciding to release €10bn in frozen funds to Budapest. Critics say the EU has been far too slow to act against Orbán, allowing an “electoral autocracy” to flourish in its midst.
Standing alongside Orbán on Tuesday, the US vice-president said: “The bureaucrats in Brussels have tried to destroy the economy of Hungary. They have tried to make Hungary less energy-independent. They have tried to drive up costs for Hungarian consumers. And they’ve done it all because they hate this guy.”
How do these claims stand up?
He probably meant the European Commission, which is responsible for drafting and enforcing EU law. The “bureaucrats of Brussels” is a longstanding Eurosceptic trope. Those who deploy it, like Vance, usually leave out the fact that EU law and policy is determined by 27 member states, mostly with the input of the European parliament.
Vance did not elaborate much on his claim. His most specific allegation was that “bureaucrats in Brussels” were imposing “digital censorship” and “telling” social media companies what information to give Hungarian voters. He did not offer any evidence.
His claim misrepresents EU law. Under the Digital Services Act, the EU has opened investigations into Meta, TikTok and X over a variety of concerns, but these inquiries, grounded in a tightly defined legal process, do not amount to “telling” companies what information they can give to groups of voters.
In contrast to Vance’s appearance on the Hungarian campaign trail, EU leaders have been at pains to avoid any comments that could be perceived as revealing a preference in the election.
Hungary has thrived since it joined the EU in the “big bang” enlargement of 2004. If in doubt, Vance could check the US government’s International Trade Administration (ITA), which reports that Hungary “boasts a strategic location in Europe [with] easy access to EU markets”, one of several factors that attracted a host of US companies, such as Coca-Cola and Microsoft, to set up operations there.
Over the last 22 years, Hungary has benefited hugely from EU funds. By 2018, more than 80% of Hungary’s public investment came from European funds intended to help poorer EU member states catch up with their wealthier neighbours.
Hungary remains a net recipient of EU funds, despite widespread concern over state corruption – an issue highlighted by the US ITA. About €18bn (£15.6bn) of Hungary’s EU funds have been frozen over concerns about issues ranging from judicial independence, discrimination against LGBTQ+ Hungarians, academic freedoms and the rights of asylum seekers. Approximately €1bn has been permanently forfeited.
Far from being singled out, the same standards apply to all EU member states. Hungary accepted these conditions.
Geopolitical shocks put up energy bills. Energy costs have risen across Europe since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with a further rise after the outbreak of the US-Iran war. That includes Hungary, where households have faced increasing gas prices.
The Orbán government has made energy a central campaign theme and blamed rising bills on EU sanctions on Russian fossil fuels.
The EU has pledged to phase out Russian fossil fuels permanently, despite opposition from Hungary. EU officials say Russia was never a reliable supplier, recalling when Moscow cut gas supplies in 2006, 2009 and 2014, an experience that affected millions of consumers, including in Hungary.
The Trump administration, which is hostile to renewable energy, appears to overlook that Hungarians benefit from some of the lowest electricity prices in Europe, thanks to an unheralded boom in solar energy production.
One of the most revealing claims from Vance was that the EU is motivated by spite, rather than law or policy: “They’ve done it all because they hate this guy.”
EU leaders are angry with Orbán. Patience snapped after the Hungarian prime minister revoked his support for a €90bn loan for Ukraine. Less than two weeks later, leaked audio appeared to expose Hungary’s foreign minister telling Moscow he would try to amend EU sanctions in Russia’s favour.
But if anything, Orbán has benefited from special treatment, such as a 2022 exemption to continue importing Russian oil. The commission has also been criticised by a senior EU legal expert for deciding to release €10bn in frozen funds to Budapest. Critics say the EU has been far too slow to act against Orbán, allowing an “electoral autocracy” to flourish in its midst.