{"id":1874130,"date":"2026-04-09T15:00:07","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T12:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1874130"},"modified":"2026-04-09T15:00:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T12:00:07","slug":"fact-checking-jd-vances-claims-that-brussels-is-harming-hungary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1874130","title":{"rendered":"Fact-checking JD Vance&#8217;s claims that Brussels is &#8216;harming Hungary&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/47\/21\/1200x675_cmsv2_41f21967-280c-597f-8143-f79d6e3a06e9-9714721.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2884981-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2884981\" data-cid=\"9716315\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2884981-label-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/63\/15\/189x106_cmsv2_df7d612c-7ef0-53b6-bd17-48cfa4e460a8-9716315.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"FILE: Yachts sail in front of the Dubai Marina district in Dubai, 30 June 2023\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    United Arab Emirates<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    UAE urges full compliance from Iran following ceasefire announcement\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2884975-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2884975\" data-cid=\"9716233\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2884975-label-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/62\/33\/189x106_cmsv2_a9d37949-c539-5b43-88c7-afe577024bdf-9716233.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt='Donald Trump has pitched a \"joint venture\" for the Strait of Hormuz.' height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    EU rejects Trump&#8217;s &#8216;joint venture&#8217; to charge ships through Hormuz\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2884913-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2884913\" data-cid=\"9715838\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2884913-label-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/58\/38\/189x106_cmsv2_810578c9-c122-5c94-8b6f-27d4161f35ac-9715838.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban gestures during a pre-election rally in Budapest, Hungary, Tuesday, April 7\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    MEPs warn of \u2018serious risks\u2019 to Hungary election\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2884927-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2884927\" data-cid=\"9715955\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2884927-label-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/59\/55\/189x106_cmsv2_809334ab-6726-59cd-93d8-8d7ceb44b55f-9715955.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Von der Leyen to raise Hungary&#8217;s &#8216;Russia leaks&#8217; with EU leaders\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2884981-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2884981\" data-cid=\"9716315\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2884981-label-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/63\/15\/189x106_cmsv2_df7d612c-7ef0-53b6-bd17-48cfa4e460a8-9716315.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"FILE: Yachts sail in front of the Dubai Marina district in Dubai, 30 June 2023\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    United Arab Emirates<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    UAE urges full compliance from Iran following ceasefire announcement\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2884975-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2884975\" data-cid=\"9716233\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2884975-label-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/62\/33\/189x106_cmsv2_a9d37949-c539-5b43-88c7-afe577024bdf-9716233.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt='Donald Trump has pitched a \"joint venture\" for the Strait of Hormuz.' height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    EU rejects Trump&#8217;s &#8216;joint venture&#8217; to charge ships through Hormuz\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2884913-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2884913\" data-cid=\"9715838\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2884913-label-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/58\/38\/189x106_cmsv2_810578c9-c122-5c94-8b6f-27d4161f35ac-9715838.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban gestures during a pre-election rally in Budapest, Hungary, Tuesday, April 7\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    MEPs warn of \u2018serious risks\u2019 to Hungary election\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2884927-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2884927\" data-cid=\"9715955\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2884927-label-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/59\/55\/189x106_cmsv2_809334ab-6726-59cd-93d8-8d7ceb44b55f-9715955.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Von der Leyen to raise Hungary&#8217;s &#8216;Russia leaks&#8217; with EU leaders\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"helper-site-row o-article-newsy\">\n<div class=\"helper-site-container o-article-newsy__container\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__main\">\n<header class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs\">\n<div id=\"adb-article-breadcrumb\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__list\">\n<p>                          Europe<\/p>\n<p>                          Europe Decoded<\/p>\n<p>                          The Cube<\/p><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<h1 class=\"c-article-redesign-title\">\n                            Fact-checking JD Vance&#8217;s claims that Brussels is &#8216;harming Hungary&#8217;<\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-video u-position-relative \">\n<div class=\"js-superdiv u-aspect-ratio-16x9 u-position-relative u-max-width-1280 u-margin-x-auto\" data-video=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;xa4z21u&quot;,&quot;articleId&quot;:2884675,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Fact-checking JD Vance's claims that Brussels is 'harming Hungary'&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/41\/14\/06\/09\/SHD_PYR_4114069_20260409131729.mp4&quot;,&quot;programId&quot;:&quot;the-cube&quot;,&quot;player&quot;:&quot;dailymotion&quot;,&quot;geoBlock&quot;:[&quot;&quot;],&quot;sources&quot;:[],&quot;description&quot;:&quot;Is Brussels crippling the Hungarian economy and making Budapest less energy independent? JD Vanceu2019s speech in Budapest makes several misleading claims.&quot;,&quot;isLive&quot;:false,&quot;articleUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/video\/2026\/04\/09\/fact-checking-jd-vances-claims-that-brussels-is-harming-hungary&quot;,&quot;duration&quot;:119920}\" data-sponsored=\"Partner content\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-poster-img c-article-media__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/47\/21\/1536x864_cmsv2_41f21967-280c-597f-8143-f79d6e3a06e9-9714721.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, left, and U.S. Vice President JD Vance gesture at the end of a pre-election rally in Budapest, Hungary, Tuesday, April 7, 2026.\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-caption u-position-absolute\"><i id=\"article-caption-content\" class=\"c-article-caption__content\"><span class=\"c-article-caption__text\"><br \/>\n              Hungary&#8217;s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, left, and U.S. Vice President JD Vance gesture at the end of a pre-election rally in Budapest, Hungary, Tuesday, April 7, 2026.<br \/>\n                    <span class=\"u-color-white\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__copyright\">Copyright\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__credit\">AP Photo<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-copyright\">\n      Copyright\u00a0AP Photo\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbspNoa Schumann&amp;nbsp&amp;&amp;nbspTamsin Paternoster\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1775746807\">\n         Published on<br \/>\n            <time datetime=\"2026-04-09 17:00:07 +02:00\">09\/04\/2026 &#8211; 17:00 GMT+2<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire 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src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-bluesky.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"bluesky\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"threads\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Threads<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"threads\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"whatsapp\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Whatsapp<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"whatsapp\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire-popup__content__embed_container u-display-none\"><span class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire-popup__content__embed__tooltip\"><br \/>\n                            Copy\/paste the article video embed link below:<br \/>\n                        <\/span><span class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire-popup__content__embed u-display-flex\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/icon-copy-to-clipboard.svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Copy to clipboard\" class=\"u-cursor-pointer js-c-article-partage-commentaire-copy\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire-popup__content__embed--success-copied u-display-none js-c-article-partage-commentaire-video-embed-success-link-copied\"><br \/>\n                                Copied<br \/>\n                            <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"c-article-summary\">\n        Is Brussels crippling the Hungarian economy and making Budapest less energy independent? JD Vance\u2019s speech in Budapest makes several misleading claims.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content js-article-content\">\n<p>A handful of days before Hungarians vote in elections that pit long-time leader Viktor Orb\u00e1n against pro-European opposition candidate P\u00e9ter Magyar, US Vice-President JD Vance travelled to Hungary to endorse Orb\u00e1n and critique the EU.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Vance, giving a press conference beside Orb\u00e1n, made a number of claims about the European Union, accusing it of &#8220;trying to destroy&#8221; Hungary&#8217;s economy, sabotaging the country&#8217;s energy independence and &#8220;driving up costs for Hungarian consumers&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>He didn&#8217;t hold back as he accused the EU of &#8220;one of the worst examples of election interference I have ever seen or ever even read about&#8221; during his trip to Budapest.<\/p>\n<p>But several of Vance&#8217;s claims are misleading. Euronews&#8217; fact-checking team, The Cube, looked at the three biggest ones. <\/p>\n<h2><strong>Is the EU trying to &#8216;destroy&#8217; Hungary&#8217;s economy?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>According to Vance, Brussels is &#8220;trying to destroy the economy of Hungary&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>But there is no evidence that the European Union is deliberately targeting Hungary&#8217;s economy, which remains a beneficiary of EU funding and integrated in the European single market.<\/p>\n<p>What Vance may have been referring to is the fact that, as of early 2026, Brussels has frozen at least \u20ac17 billion worth of funds allocated to Hungary as part of the EU budget, over Budapest&#8217;s failure to implement sufficient reforms to combat long-standing rule of law breaches and misuse of public funds. <\/p>\n<p>Some of these reforms include stemming corruption, improving judicial independence and public procurement processes.<\/p>\n<p>The frozen funds are a central issue in Hungary&#8217;s election, with opposition parties pledging to unlock the money, which is estimated to be the equivalent of roughly 8% of Hungary&#8217;s GDP.<\/p>\n<p>The conditions applied to Hungary are agreed by all member states and are designed to protect the EU budget, rather than punish specific economies. <\/p>\n<p>It is also not permanent, and the funds can be released if Hungary meets the agreed reform conditions. Previously, Poland saw billions in EU recovery funds delayed over concerns about judicial reforms, although this money was eventually unlocked. <\/p>\n<h2><strong>Is Brussels trying to make Hungary &#8216;less energy independent&#8217;?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Vance claimed the EU is undermining Hungary\u2019s energy independence and increasing consumer costs, but the reality is more complex. <\/p>\n<p>The remarks appear to refer to the EU&#8217;s push to diversify away from Russian crude oil, an endeavour that began after Russia&#8217;s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and that Hungary seems hesitant to undertake. <\/p>\n<p>It also appears to refer to a dispute around the Druzhba pipeline \u2014 a key supplier of Russian oil to Hungary \u2014 which has been damaged since early 2026. <\/p>\n<p>The damage has sparked a dispute between Hungary and Slovakia on one side and Ukraine on the other, with Budapest alleging Ukrainian sabotage and Kyiv blaming a Russian airstrike.<\/p>\n<p>The European Union has sent an independent &#8220;fact-finding mission&#8221; to ascertain the cause of the damage.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n<div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n<div class=\"widget__contents\">\n<figure class=\"widget__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/47\/21\/808x539_cmsv2_3fc4ce5d-729b-556e-ad22-9283e83cb2bf-9714721.jpg\" alt=\"U.S. Vice President JD Vance speaks during a pre-election rally in Budapest, Hungary, Tuesday, April 7, 2026\"><figcaption class=\"widget__caption\"><span class=\"widget__captionWrap\"><span class=\"widget__captionText\">U.S. Vice President JD Vance speaks during a pre-election rally in Budapest, Hungary, Tuesday, April 7, 2026<\/span><span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Since Russia&#8217;s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU has sanctioned Russian energy, including a ban on seaborne oil. However, Hungary \u2014 along with Slovakia and Bulgaria \u2014 has been granted exemptions to continue pipeline imports.<\/p>\n<p>Hungary remains highly dependent on Russian oil, which accounted for around 90% of its imports by 2025, according to the Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD), an independent think-tank based in Bulgaria. <\/p>\n<p>In contrast, as part of long-term sanctions against Russia, European Union countries have all sought to diversify their fuel sources to wean EU economies off Russian oil. <\/p>\n<p>But Hungary&#8217;s continued reliance on Russian crude is complex and controversial. Orb\u00e1n argues that switching away from the Druzhba pipeline would raise costs, but critics argue that Hungary has been slow to diversify despite having viable alternative routes that could supply the country with non-Russian crude. <\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id data-event=\"widget_related\">\n<div class=\"c-widget-related__title\"><b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b><\/div>\n<ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n<li class=\"c-widget-related__item\">Fact check: Does Hungary have alternatives to the Druzhba pipeline?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>Whilst Russian crude is indeed roughly 20% cheaper than alternatives, the CSD&#8217;s analysis shows that this did not necessarily translate to lower prices for consumers, especially compared to neighbours in the Czech Republic, which reduced its imports of Russian crude. <\/p>\n<p>Despite repeated claims that Russian imports would ensure low prices and energy security in Hungary, recent disruptions to the Druzhba pipeline, alongside turmoil in the Middle East, suggest the country has not benefited from its reliance on discounted Russian crude. Fuel prices in Hungary have risen in line with the rest of Europe amid global market instability.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Is Brussels dictating social media content for Hungarian voters?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Finally, Vance suggested that Brussels was directing social media content shown to Hungarian voters, implying EU interference in elections.<\/p>\n<p>The vice president appeared to be targeting the Digital Services Act (DSA), in force since November 2022. The law is based on the principle that &#8220;what is illegal offline is also illegal online&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>It aims to curb the spread of illegal or harmful content and goods, including racist abuse, child sexual abuse material, disinformation, and the sale of drugs or counterfeit products.<\/p>\n<p>In November 2025, the DSA led to a \u20ac120 million fine against X over advertising transparency, contributing to tensions between the EU and Washington.<\/p>\n<p>The administration of President Donald Trump has formally opposed the DSA and has targeted EU officials over it. For example, on 23 December 2025, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that former European Commissioner Thierry Breton \u2014 seen by the administration as the architect of the law \u2014 would be barred from entering the United States for allegedly forcing US social platforms to censor users.<\/p>\n<p>Thomas Regnier, spokesperson for the European Commission, told The Cube that the DSA addresses risks linked to online platforms, recalling that &#8220;in Europe, elections are the sole choice of citizens&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Online platforms can be used to spread disinformation and manipulate citizens,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Because of our Digital Services Act, online platforms have to mitigate risks to protect our democracies. In Europe, elections are not the choice of Big Tech and their algorithms.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Ahead of Hungary&#8217;s elections, accounts supporting Fidesz have also accused Meta of censoring Prime Minister Viktor Orb\u00e1n. Fidesz official Bal\u00e1zs Orb\u00e1n claimed users were &#8220;unable to like Fidesz-related content&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>A spokesperson for the US tech company has hit back at these claims, telling The Cube there were &#8220;no restrictions on the [Hungarian] Prime Minister&#8217;s accounts&#8221; and that none of his posts had been removed.<\/p>\n<p>Meta&#8217;s community standards, which determine whether content has a limited reach or is removed, are based on factors such as whether content is &#8220;hateful&#8221; or targets people for their race or sexual orientation, for example.<\/p>\n<p>These, according to a Meta spokesperson, &#8220;apply equally to everybody&#8221;.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                          Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-partage-commentaire-share\"><span>Share<\/span><\/span><span>Comments<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-you-might-also-like\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-you-might-also-like\">\n<h2 class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__title\">\n        Read more<br \/>\n      <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  US Vice President Vance attacks Brussels and vows to help Orb\u00e1n ahead of Hungarian vote <\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Europe Today: Vance rallies behind Orb\u00e1n in Hungary election campaign\u2019s final week<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  US Vice President Vance departs for Hungary in support of Orb\u00e1n<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto\">\n<ul id=\"adb-article-tags\" class=\"c-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<p>    JD Vance<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<p>    Brussels<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<p>    Hungary<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<p>    Viktor Orb\u00e1n<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<p>    TheCube<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"o-article-newsy__aside\">\n<div class=\"c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-1\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-top-stories\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-top-stories\">\n<h2 class=\"c-top-stories__title\">Top stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2884754-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2884754\" data-cid=\"9715155\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2884754-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/51\/55\/320x180_cmsv2_df682f67-0f6a-5bf5-9f1b-b776954cc7ff-9715155.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard march during a military parade just outside Tehran, 22 September, 2022\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Ceasefire in peril as Iran closes strait over Lebanon strikes<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2884926-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2884926\" data-cid=\"9715928\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2884926-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/59\/28\/320x180_cmsv2_f05a629d-47f8-5ecf-951e-45664f32ad67-9715928.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"FILE - Two traditional dhows sail by a large container ship in the Strait of Hormuz, 19 May 2023\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Confusion reigns over Hormuz reopening as Iran issues new conditions<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2884975-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2884975\" data-cid=\"9716233\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2884975-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/62\/33\/320x180_cmsv2_a9d37949-c539-5b43-88c7-afe577024bdf-9716233.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt='Donald Trump has pitched a \"joint venture\" for the Strait of Hormuz.' height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    EU rejects Trump&#8217;s &#8216;joint venture&#8217; to charge ships 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height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2884754-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2884754\" data-cid=\"9715155\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2884754-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/51\/55\/320x180_cmsv2_df682f67-0f6a-5bf5-9f1b-b776954cc7ff-9715155.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard march during a military parade just outside Tehran, 22 September, 2022\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Ceasefire in peril as Iran closes strait over Lebanon strikes<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2884926-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2884926\" data-cid=\"9715928\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2884926-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/59\/28\/320x180_cmsv2_f05a629d-47f8-5ecf-951e-45664f32ad67-9715928.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"FILE - Two traditional dhows sail by a large container ship in the Strait of Hormuz, 19 May 2023\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div 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Hormuz<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2884927-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2884927\" data-cid=\"9715955\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2884927-label-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/59\/55\/320x180_cmsv2_809334ab-6726-59cd-93d8-8d7ceb44b55f-9715955.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Von der Leyen to raise Hungary&#8217;s &#8216;Russia leaks&#8217; with EU leaders<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2884913-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2884913\" data-cid=\"9715838\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2884913-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/58\/38\/320x180_cmsv2_810578c9-c122-5c94-8b6f-27d4161f35ac-9715838.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban gestures during a pre-election rally in Budapest, Hungary, Tuesday, April 7\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    MEPs warn of \u2018serious risks\u2019 to Hungary election<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2884572-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2884572\" data-cid=\"9714163\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div 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unacceptable,&#8217; White House says<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2884839-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2884839\" data-cid=\"9715503\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    &#8216;Infantile name calling&#8217;: George Clooney responds to White House slur<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2884625-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2884625\" data-cid=\"9714403\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Space centres and launch sites around the globe you can visit<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"articleBody\" data-key=\"articleBody\">A handful of days before Hungarians vote in elections that pit long-time leader Viktor Orb\u00e1n against pro-European opposition candidate P\u00e9ter Magyar, US Vice-President JD Vance travelled to Hungary to endorse Orb\u00e1n and critique the EU.Vance, giving a press conference beside Orb\u00e1n, made a number of claims about the European Union, accusing it of &#8220;trying to destroy&#8221; Hungary&#8217;s economy, sabotaging the country&#8217;s energy independence and &#8220;driving up costs for Hungarian consumers&#8221;.He didn&#8217;t hold back as he accused the EU of &#8220;one of the worst examples of election interference I have ever seen or ever even read about&#8221; during his trip to Budapest.But several of Vance&#8217;s claims are misleading. Euronews&#8217; fact-checking team, The Cube, looked at the three biggest ones.\u00a0Is the EU trying to &#8216;destroy&#8217; Hungary&#8217;s economy?According to Vance, Brussels is &#8220;trying to destroy the economy of Hungary&#8221;.But there is no evidence that the European Union is deliberately targeting Hungary&#8217;s economy, which remains a beneficiary of EU funding and integrated in the European single market.What Vance may have been referring to is the fact that, as of early 2026, Brussels has frozen at least \u20ac17 billion worth of funds allocated to Hungary as part of the EU budget, over Budapest&#8217;s failure to implement sufficient reforms to combat long-standing rule of law breaches and misuse of public funds.\u00a0Some of these reforms include stemming corruption, improving judicial independence and public procurement processes.The frozen funds are a central issue in Hungary&#8217;s election, with opposition parties pledging to unlock the money, which is estimated to be the equivalent of roughly 8% of Hungary&#8217;s GDP.The conditions applied to Hungary are agreed by all member states and are designed to protect the EU budget, rather than punish specific economies.\u00a0It is also not permanent, and the funds can be released if Hungary meets the agreed reform conditions. Previously, Poland saw billions in EU recovery funds delayed over concerns about judicial reforms, although this money was eventually unlocked.\u00a0Is Brussels trying to make Hungary &#8216;less energy independent&#8217;?Vance claimed the EU is undermining Hungary\u2019s energy independence and increasing consumer costs, but the reality is more complex.\u00a0The remarks appear to refer to the EU&#8217;s push to diversify away from Russian crude oil, an endeavour that began after Russia&#8217;s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and that Hungary seems hesitant to undertake.\u00a0It also appears to refer to a dispute around the Druzhba pipeline \u2014 a key supplier of Russian oil to Hungary \u2014 which has been damaged since early 2026.\u00a0The damage has sparked a dispute between Hungary and Slovakia on one side and Ukraine on the other, with Budapest alleging Ukrainian sabotage and Kyiv blaming a Russian airstrike.The European Union has sent an independent &#8220;fact-finding mission&#8221; to ascertain the cause of the damage.Since Russia&#8217;s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU has sanctioned Russian energy, including a ban on seaborne oil. However, Hungary \u2014 along with Slovakia and Bulgaria \u2014 has been granted exemptions to continue pipeline imports.Hungary remains highly dependent on Russian oil, which accounted for around 90% of its imports by 2025, according to the Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD), an independent think-tank based in Bulgaria.In contrast, as part of long-term sanctions against Russia, European Union countries have all sought to diversify their fuel sources to wean EU economies off Russian oil.\u00a0But Hungary&#8217;s continued reliance on Russian crude is complex and controversial. Orb\u00e1n argues that switching away from the Druzhba pipeline would raise costs, but critics argue that Hungary has been slow to diversify despite having viable alternative routes that could supply the country with non-Russian crude.\u00a0Whilst Russian crude is indeed roughly 20% cheaper than alternatives, the CSD&#8217;s analysis shows that this did not necessarily translate to lower prices for consumers, especially compared to neighbours in the Czech Republic, which reduced its imports of Russian crude.\u00a0Despite repeated claims that Russian imports would ensure low prices and energy security in Hungary, recent disruptions to the Druzhba pipeline, alongside turmoil in the Middle East, suggest the country has not benefited from its reliance on discounted Russian crude. Fuel prices in Hungary have risen in line with the rest of Europe amid global market instability.Is Brussels dictating social media content for Hungarian voters?Finally, Vance suggested that Brussels was directing social media content shown to Hungarian voters, implying EU interference in elections.The vice president appeared to be targeting the Digital Services Act (DSA), in force since November 2022. The law is based on the principle that &#8220;what is illegal offline is also illegal online&#8221;.It aims to curb the spread of illegal or harmful content and goods, including racist abuse, child sexual abuse material, disinformation, and the sale of drugs or counterfeit products.In November 2025, the DSA led to a \u20ac120 million fine against X over advertising transparency, contributing to tensions between the EU and Washington.The administration of President Donald Trump has formally opposed the DSA and has targeted EU officials over it. For example, on 23 December 2025, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that former European Commissioner Thierry Breton \u2014 seen by the administration as the architect of the law \u2014 would be barred from entering the United States for allegedly forcing US social platforms to censor users.Thomas Regnier, spokesperson for the European Commission, told The Cube that the DSA addresses risks linked to online platforms, recalling that &#8220;in Europe, elections are the sole choice of citizens&#8221;.&#8221;Online platforms can be used to spread disinformation and manipulate citizens,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Because of our Digital Services Act, online platforms have to mitigate risks to protect our democracies. In Europe, elections are not the choice of Big Tech and their algorithms.&#8221;Ahead of Hungary&#8217;s elections, accounts supporting Fidesz have also accused Meta of censoring Prime Minister Viktor Orb\u00e1n. Fidesz official Bal\u00e1zs Orb\u00e1n claimed users were &#8220;unable to like Fidesz-related content&#8221;.A spokesperson for the US tech company has hit back at these claims, telling The Cube there were &#8220;no restrictions on the [Hungarian] Prime Minister&#8217;s accounts&#8221; and that none of his posts had been removed.Meta&#8217;s community standards, which determine whether content has a limited reach or is removed, are based on factors such as whether content is &#8220;hateful&#8221; or targets people for their race or sexual orientation, for example.These, according to a Meta spokesperson, &#8220;apply equally to everybody&#8221;.<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2026\/04\/09\/fact-checking-jd-vances-claims-that-brussels-is-harming-hungary&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/47\/21\/1200x675_cmsv2_41f21967-280c-597f-8143-f79d6e3a06e9-9714721.jpg&#8221;] United Arab Emirates UAE urges full compliance from Iran following ceasefire announcement Europe News EU rejects Trump&#8217;s &#8216;joint venture&#8217; to charge ships through Hormuz Europe News MEPs warn of \u2018serious risks\u2019 to Hungary election Europe News Von der Leyen to raise Hungary&#8217;s &#8216;Russia leaks&#8217; with EU leaders United Arab Emirates UAE urges [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[226,36],"class_list":["post-1874130","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international","tag-crawlmanager","tag-euronews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1874130","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1874130"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1874130\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1874130"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1874130"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1874130"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}