Peace is essential for prosperity!

At the European Parliament’s Wednesday plenary session in Strasbourg, MEPs debated the draft of a new EU strategy to combat poverty. Pál Szekeres, Member of the European Parliament for Fidesz, pointed out in his speech: “Are we seriously debating whether to spend EUR 6 or 20 billion on all poor children in the EU, while we want to spend more than EUR 1,000 billion on war—that is, fifty times as much? It must be made clear that we can only pay proper attention to the most vulnerable if there is peace!”

Szekeres recalled: “In the fight against poverty, we do not need abstract ideologies but national models that have already proven successful in practice. That is why the alternative text proposal of the Patriots for Europe focuses on the examples of the Hungarian and Italian governments—because we have already shown what needs to be done.”

“Let me share the recipe with you as well: families and work must be placed at the center of government policy, because only work that provides a decent living can break the vicious circle of poverty. Child poverty can only be reduced if more money remains in parents’ pockets; that is why in Hungary mothers with two or more children do not pay personal income tax,” the MEP continued.

Szekeres also emphasized: “Following the Hungarian example, other Member States should also help young people to acquire their own homes, and ensure that everyone can heat their homes at affordable prices. This is supported by regulated utility price reductions and home renovation subsidies.”