2024-02-01 09:49:27
European Union leaders meet this Thursday, February 1, in Brussels with the aim of convincing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to lift the blockade on a special fund of 50 billion euros for Ukraine.
Published on: 01/02/2024 – 10:49
2 min
The President of the European Commission states that this special envelope of 50 billion euros will be granted with or without Hungary’s approval. Ursula von der Leyen states that this aid will allow Ukraine to fill its budget deficit, but also to equip itself, during the next four years, in the military aspect, in order to guarantee air and land defense against Russian aggression.
Head of State Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Western neighbors for their support, given the uncertainty of recent months about future aid from Brussels and Washington. Kiev is also focusing on developing bilateral agreements.
However, Hungary demands to carry out an annual review of this support, with a unanimous vote, but the remaining European states do not want to allow this blockade.
The European Union’s proposal is to organize an annual debate at the level of heads of state or government, without the possibility of veto. If they are unable to convince their Hungarian counterpart, the leaders also promised to find a solution to continue supporting Ukraine financially, at least in the short term.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk assured that with or without Viktor Orbán’s support, European leaders will find a solution.
One option would be to annually renew macro-financial aid, which in 2023 amounted to 18 billion euros, a formula that requires only a qualified majority.
There is also the possibility of Article 7, the “nuclear option” – provided for in European Union treaties to stop countries that commit serious violations of the bloc’s fundamental values. According to the last step of this article, which has never been acted upon, the accused State can be stripped of voting rights. However, to move forward with this article unanimity is essential and it is not clear that all 26 countries will agree with the idea of punishing Hungary.
Speaking to RFI, Lukas Macek, political scientist and head of the Jacques Delors European Center, considers that the bloc is in a configuration of 26 against one, but recognizes that if Hungary persists with the veto it could set a precedent.
“I think we are still in a 26 to one configuration, but it is fragile and it is clear that if Hungary persists in using the veto, it could set a precedent. Other Member States may be tempted to question the unity of the group.”he explained.
In addition to aid to Ukraine and the common budget, the leaders will discuss the supply of ammunition to Kiev, the farmers’ crisis, the war between Israel and Hamas, the crisis in the Red Sea and the controversy surrounding the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees.
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