despite the Hungarian veto, Europe undertakes “whatever happens” to maintain its financial support

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has vetoed new European support for Ukraine of 50 billion euros over four years. A veto which at this stage has a fairly limited scope.

Will Ukraine be deprived of financial support from Europeans after the veto put by the Hungarian Prime Minister on the massive aid of 50 billion promised to the Ukrainians? At the end of their summit in Brussels, most of the Union’s leaders were reassuring. Thursday, December 14, the 27 member states managed to bypass the opposition of Viktor Orban, who ultimately did not use his right of veto, to open accession negotiations with Ukraine. A strong political message welcomed by kyiv. But on the night of Thursday to Friday, the Hungarian Prime Minister used his right of veto, this time to oppose the adoption of new EU budgetary support for Ukraine. However, this blockage does not call into question immediate financial support.

“Whatever happens”, The EU will continue to support Ukraine, assured Ursula von der Leyen, President of the Commission. “We will do it as long as necessary,” said German Chancellor Olaf Sholz. In a statement that was both benevolent and firm, the French head of state called on the Hungarian Prime Minister to behave “in European” and not to take “Held hostage” the political progress of the Union. “Hungary was respected during this Council, it has a voice carried by its Prime Minister, it defends its interests (…) This respect implies responsibilities”, believes Emmanuel Macron.

Towards a 26-member solution?

The 27 will meet at an extraordinary summit at the end of January or beginning of February to continue their budgetary discussions. In the event of a persistent blockage, they will find a solution among 26, we assure you in Brussels. Until then, the European Commission will continue to send money to kyiv – around 1.5 billion euros each month – to pay civil servants’ salaries, for example, and support the war effort. A previous negotiation had made it possible to identify and earmark a sufficient amount to cover 2024, specifies a European diplomat.

Of course, everyone in Brussels would have wanted an agreement on the revision of the Europeans’ budget. Budget which therefore provides financial support for kyiv of 50 billion euros over four years. The message sent to Vladimir Putin would have been clear about the sustainability of the Europeans’ financial commitment, but we did not succeed. Negotiations will continue to try to convince Viktor Orban, the only opponent of this agreement which requires unanimity.

Blackmail of European funds assumed

The Hungarian leader threatens to maintain his veto if he does not recover European funds, blocked due to the situation of the rule of law in his country. After procrastinating on this aid, explaining that he agreed to release part of it but not in the long term, Viktor Orban finally laid down his cards, Friday, on national radio: he publicly accepts the blackmail he is being subjected to. customary.

A third of these European funds frozen for breaches of the rule of law have just been released, but that is not enough. Viktor Orban is demanding 20 billion euros more, the additional amount to validate the budget revision. But we don’t “will not bargain with him on our values”, have already declared several leaders, who therefore postpone the decision to a future summit probably at the end of January.

Until then, the ambassadors, who have already suffered greatly over the compromise presented the night of Thursday to Friday, will have to work again to find a compromise acceptable to Budapest. It should be noted that financial aid to Ukraine is part of a more global renegotiation of the EU’s multiannual budget. It was negotiated in 2020 for seven years, but it is not enough. We had not foreseen either the war or the energy crisis. The Commission’s coffers are empty. This revised budget also provides for a surplus to finance new migration and industrial policies, and at this stage everything is therefore blocked.