EC president: Hungarian people have made Europe stronger

“Twenty years ago today, our family was finally united in a common home. Hungary has always been at the heart of Europe,” she said in the video posted on her social media page.

But behind the Iron Curtain, von der Leyen said, generations of Hungarians had fought bravely to reconquer their freedom.

“Twenty years ago you chose to reclaim your rightful place at the centre of our continent. You chose Europe,” the EC president said.

Europe has grown stronger ever since, she said, adding that Hungary had also flourished in countless ways with new schools, hospitals and highways built and homegrown renewable energy developed mostly with the help of EU funding.

She noted the two Nobel Prizes Hungarian scientists won last year. “Katalin Kariko’s discoveries helped develop the mRNA vaccines that helped beat Covid and saved countless lives. And Ferenc Krausz brought us closer to understanding how matter around us is made,” she said, adding that “both prizes are the result of Hungarian ingenuity”.

“We are stronger together. Happy anniversary and long live Europe!” said von der Leyen.