PATRIOTS.EU STATEMENT – Brussels, 14 October
The leaders of the Patriots member parties gathered in Brussels to coordinate and reaffirm common positions regarding the European Council meeting on 15-16 October 2026.
In the context of negotiations on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), Patriots leaders underline that the European Commission’s proposal is fundamentally flawed. Patriots demand a reduction in all unnecessary EU expenditure, thereby rejecting any increase in the EU budget resulting in further EU bureaucracy and enabling a reduction in national contributions. At a time when European citizens face rising living costs and national governments are under pressure to finance essential public services, demanding more money for Brussels is unacceptable. The Patriots reject any change to the established timetable. There is no justification for altering the schedule, certainly not before the elections in several Member States in the coming months On the contrary, respecting the timetable will enhance the democratic legitimacy of the next Multiannual Financial Framework. Furthermore, instead of funding the expansion of the European bureaucracy and granting more powers to the Commission, the Patriots insist that the interests of farmers and peoples of Europe must be protected, thereby also safeguarding the interest of our Member States. The Patriots’ leaders reject the application of ideological conditionalities within the new budget. They also oppose the creation of new own resources, which would impose additional financial burdens on European businesses and citizens.
After the invasion of Ceuta, the European Union’s southern border by tens of thousands of illegal immigrants, the Patriots leaders demand the firm and non-negotiable defence of Europe’s borders, an indispensable condition for the survival of our nations and our civilisation, as well as a common and forceful response to any third country that uses immigration to attack the sovereignty of Member States. The Patriots strongly condemn the open-door policy of Pedro Sánchez’s government, which has rewarded illegality with the mass regularisation of hundreds of thousands of immigrants, a decision that, in an area without internal borders such as Schengen, will have very serious consequences for the security, public services and social cohesion of all Europeans. The calling of early elections in this context confirms the resounding failure of a government that has abandoned Ceuta and endangered the whole of Europe. The Patriots reaffirm the sovereign right of Member States to determine who may enter, reside and settle on their territory. Decisions taken unilaterally by one Member State must not undermine the migration policies, security or sovereignty of other Member States.
The leaders of the Patriots member parties reiterate their view that competitiveness today is first and foremost about energy. In a difficult geopolitical environment, Europe needs peace and stability, but it also needs to protect its economic and energy security. European companies cannot compete with today’s energy prices and carbon costs. Immediate reanalysis of ETS 1 is needed, including measures to reduce the impact of carbon costs on electricity prices, a review of benchmarks and free allocation, a thorough reassessment or even a freeze of ETS 2. EU Member States, already at the forefront in meeting their climate commitments, cannot bear constraints that our main economic competitors do not impose on themselves. Europe must also protect and strengthen its refining capacity, produce more energy, in particular energy derived from nuclear power, hydroelectricity, biomass and geothermal energy and diversify supplies. We call for promoting the development of new generations of nuclear reactors and other means of producing clean, sovereign, and competitive energy through cooperation among willing governments. Replacing European production with imports only increases our dependence. If this continues, Europe risks permanently losing industrial production, investment, economic resilience and the ability to defend ourselves.
The Patriots leaders support every effort to end the war and bloodshed caused by Russia and to achieve peace in Ukraine. They express concerns about the proposals on the further financing of Ukraine from the new MFF. Peace must be Europe’s top priority. Regarding Ukraine’s accession to the EU, Patriots leaders reiterate their view that Ukraine’s accession to the EU would pose major concerns. They underline the risks with regard to the agriculture, labour market, and the security of the Member States.
The Patriots leaders express serious concerns regarding the steps taken by the new Hungarian government to silence opposition forces in Hungary. The retroactive legislation introducing a 12-year limit on parliamentary mandates, effectively banning most opposition politicians from seeking re-election, along with preventing the opposition leader from returning to the office of Prime Minister, is unacceptable. These measures severely undermine citizens’ voting rights and impose unprecedented restrictions on democratic participation in Europe. In a state governed by the rule of law, it is also unacceptable for a Prime Minister to interfere into the work of the police, prosecutors and judges via social media. Patriots leaders also condemn any launch of politically motivated criminal proceedings against opposition politicians and the disproportionate coercive measures against them with the sole aim of intimidation and punishment.
The Patriots reaffirm that national sovereignty, democratic accountability and the interests of our citizens must take precedence over further European integration. We reject any transfer of additional powers to the European Commission, any erosion of national veto rights and any attempt to impose a federal European Union against the will of its Member States and their citizens.
