Hungary’s radical nationalist Jobbik party has dismissed proposals to transform the EU into a “united states of Europe” as absurd, and voiced commitment to a “Europe of nations”.

Jobbik lawmaker Gabor Staudt told a press conference on Monday that the leftist opposition Democratic Coalition’s recently promoting such a transformation was “shocking”. He said it was the first time a party openly undertook the support of the “superstate concept”.

Staudt said that if Europe were to be restructured as a “superstate”, it would be “the end” for nation states and argued that “Brussels, which is strongly influenced by multinational companies, would pass all decisions”. A restructured EU would “only retain its countries as provinces”, he insisted.

Staudt also criticised the ruling Fidesz party for its supporting the Lisbon Treaty, which “shifted the EU towards an empire structure”, as well as the EU’s fiscal pact.

Jobbik, on the other hand, believes in a “Europe of nations” based on peaceful, economy-based cooperation, Staudt added.