2024-01-30 11:44:31
WORLD – Brussels is considering economic measures against Hungary, which vetoes financing for Ukraine. Growing tensions reveal divisions within the EU and raise questions about democracy within the bloc. The tense negotiations could take a decisive turn during the next extraordinary summit which will take place on February 1 in the Belgian capital.
Last December, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán vetoed EU funding for Ukraine. He reiterated this position at the beginning of January, and is sticking to his position. This funding, known as the Ukraine Facility, was planned to provide financial assistance to Ukraine’s leaders between 2024 and 2027 to address their growing public deficit.
According to a report from Financial Times Citing a confidential plan from Brussels, the European Union would consider taking measures to disrupt the Hungarian economy if that country were to block a new financing program for Ukraine at the summit scheduled for February 1. THE Financial Times revealed on Sunday (January 28) that a major secret project drawn up by EU officials suggests that the European Union plans to “jeopardize” the Hungarian currency and cause a “collapse of investor confidence” in response to Budapest’s opposition to the 50 billion euro ($54 billion) aid package intended for the Kiev regime.
The document states that “in the event that there is no agreement” between the 27 EU member states at the extraordinary summit planned in Brussels, “other heads of state and government could declare that , given the obstructive behavior of the Hungarian Prime Minister”, the question of how the EU can “continue to provide funds to Hungary” could be raised. According to Financial Timesthe document reflects the fact that “European financial markets and companies may be much less interested in investments in Hungary.”
A democratic community?
“If this is true, what does it mean? It means that the European Union is not a democratic community at all,” Gabor Stier, a Hungarian foreign policy analyst and founder, told Sputnik media from the information portal moszkvater.com and member of the Valdaï discussion club (laboratory of ideas installed in Moscow and international forum launched in 2004 at the initiative of Vladimir Putin, Editor’s note). If the European Union puts such brutal pressure on one of its members because of a divergent opinion, it suggests that it fears that country, or even insinuates that it should leave the Union.
“If we consider such a punishment for Hungary, it will not only be Orbán who will suffer, but the whole country. If Brussels persists in its desire to release 50 billion euros to support Ukraine, it will continue to undermine the foundations of the European Union. This represents a far more devastating impact than the destruction of a single country,” Stier added.
The analyst pointed out that previously the EU used to engage in discussions with other states to resolve various sensitive issues. However, when Hungary expresses its opposition to new multi-billion euro funding for kyiv, Brussels appears to resort to “crude blackmail”.
Hungarian resistance to blackmail from Brussels
The weakness of the Hungarian economy is a topic that is being talked about in Brussels, although putting it in a document and implying that there is a sabotage plan has also caused confusion among some actors in the capital European. The idea of using the economy to force certain Member States to respect rules and commitments is not new. In 2020, the Rule of Law Instrument was adopted, allowing EU funds to be frozen for countries that deviate from European standards on this subject.
The European Commission thus maintains the freezing of billions of euros of European funds for Budapest due to doubts regarding the rule of law in Hungary. Just before the extraordinary summit in December, the Commission unfrozen 10 billion euros but Viktor Orbán has not changed his position and demands that all funds be unfrozen.
For the Hungarian government, the document disclosed by the Financial Times shows that there is indeed “blackmail” on the part of Brussels and not a series of objective criteria which would activate the blockade. János Bóka, the Hungarian Minister of European Affairs, reacted on social networks: “The document drawn up by the bureaucrats in Brussels only confirms what the Hungarian government has been saying for a long time, namely that access to European funds is used for purposes of political blackmail”
Political maneuvering and compromises in sight
The European Council recognizes the existence of a document that has not been the subject of any high-level political discussion, suggesting that it is a tactical move aimed at putting additional pressure on Orbán.
Charles Michel’s team is stepping up its efforts to reach a compromise at the extraordinary EU summit. Orbán maintains his veto on the revision of the multiannual financial framework (MFF), sparking concerns in Brussels and elsewhere. Although Hungary shows some flexibility, negotiations remain tense. An alternative being considered would be to withdraw funds for Ukraine from the MFF and explore a Plan B for other EU member states. However, this option divides European capitals, with some preferring to keep all funds within the community budgetary framework.
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