Hungary is threatened with sanctions for significant EU funds because of suspected corruption. In order to prolong the process and win the favor of other member states, the country is now voting against Ukrainian financial aid. One should not "let oneself be blackmailed," warns the European Parliament.
Hungary continues to block EU financial aid of 18 billion euros for Ukraine. Hungarian Finance Minister Mihaly Varga voted against the release of the funds, which requires unanimity, at a meeting with his EU counterparts in Brussels. At the same time, Hungary achieved a postponement in the dispute over deficiencies in the rule of law: the finance ministers postponed their originally planned vote on reducing billions in aid for Budapest.
"It is regrettable that we did not make a decision today about the indispensable financial aid for Ukraine," said Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner after the meeting. "Hungary is responsible for that." The 26 other EU countries must now "find an agreement as quickly as possible" on how they could provide the billions for Kyiv.
"Our goal remains to start disbursing aid to Ukraine at the beginning of January," said Czech Finance Minister Zbynek Stanjura, whose country will chair the EU countries until the end of the year. According to him, the EU countries are now looking for an alternative solution without Hungary. EU Budget Commissioner Johannes Hahn said Brussels would "do the best it can" to provide Ukraine with the 18 billion euros that Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has promised Kyiv for the coming year.
According to diplomats, Hungary wants to prevent the other member states from blocking EU aid totaling more than 13 billion euros for Budapest with its blocking stance. The EU Commission had recommended blocking the funds, among other things, because of massive problems in the fight against corruption in Hungary. However, there is not yet the required majority for such a sanction among the member states. Eastern European countries in particular fear being prosecuted for problems with the rule of law.
The Council of Ministers asked the Commission to issue a new opinion on Hungary in the next few days, which also includes the current legislation. On Wednesday, the Hungarian parliament wanted to launch the first rule of law reforms announced by Prime Minister Viktor Orban. "There must be no discount here out of opportunism," emphasized Lindner, with a view to Hungary. The EU must "know exactly that something has actually changed substantially".
His Dutch colleague Sigrid Kaag called for a "tough stance" on Orban. Criticism, on the other hand, came from the European Parliament: The EU should not allow itself to be "blackmailed" by right-wing populists, explained MP and German Left Party leader Martin Schirdewan.
Hungarian Finance Minister Varga accused the EU of setting a "dangerous precedent," his spokesman wrote on Twitter. In April, the EU Commission initiated proceedings against Hungary under the new rule of law mechanism for the first time. Last week she recommended withholding 7.5 billion euros in EU funding for the country and 5.8 billion euros from the Corona development fund for Budapest. The European Parliament fears that this recommendation could now be watered down.
