Espreso. Global
Exclusive

Hungary may lose €10.2 billion, unfrozen 'for inviting Ukraine to EU’ -  Strasbourg correspondent Tetyana Vysotska

18 January, 2024 Thursday
16:56

Strasbourg correspondent Tetyana Vysotska reveals the European Parliament's discussions on plans to enhance military and financial aid for Ukraine, and the Article 7 procedure that might strip Hungary of its European Council voting rights

client/title.list_title

She shared the information on Espreso TV.

"The key debates on the main session days, Tuesday and Wednesday, were devoted to Ukraine. On Tuesday, they discussed the fulfillment of the European Union's commitments to Ukraine to provide military support, Vice President of the European Commission Maroš Šefčovič addressed the MPs and said that the EU is going to increase military support for Ukraine, and for this purpose, the EU defense industry is again increasing production capacity, and he once again promised that very soon the EU will reach the potential to produce one million rounds of ammunition per year, and this ammunition will be sent to Ukraine, which is important for us. The EU's military support for Ukraine will be discussed at the EU Leaders' Summit in Brussels on February 1, 2024, and Wednesday's key debates in the EU were devoted to preparations for the Summit," the correspondent explained.

Vysotska emphasized that on Wednesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addressed the parliament. She spoke about providing Ukraine with €50 billion in macro-financial assistance for the next four years, something that Orban blocked in December. However, Ursula believes that the Hungarian leader will still support this decision along with the 26 EU member states.

Orban is to be deprived of his vote and money

"The European Parliament did not really believe that Orban could change and surrender so easily - the European Parliament offers real mechanisms of influence and pressure on Orban. Based on the results of yesterday's debate, a resolution was prepared and put to a vote today on the agenda. First of all, European MPs propose to apply to Hungary and Orban himself the procedure of Article 7, paragraph 2 of the Treaty on European Union, which may ultimately deprive Orban of the right to vote in the European Council, meaning that he simply will not be able to veto Council decisions, including those on Ukraine. The final word is up to the state leaders and the European Council," she explains.

According to the correspondent, the European Parliament plans to appeal the European Commission's unfreezing of funds for Hungary: "We are talking about €10.2 billion, unfrozen just before the EU leaders' summit in December, which is probably why Orban agreed to start negotiations on Ukraine's accession. The European Parliament plans to sue the European Commission in the EU court in Luxembourg to challenge the decision to transfer these funds to Hungary."

Preparing for the European Parliament elections

"On the sidelines of the European Parliament, they emphasize that the rhetoric has changed not only among the MPs in the session hall, but also among European Council members, who can actually see that Orban, and now Fico, are behaving in a way that is completely contrary to European values and aspirations, and therefore it is absolutely realistic that they will now be handled," the correspondent explains.

Vysotska added that aggressive anti-Ukrainian rhetoric is raging in the session hall because of the upcoming European Parliament elections: "Unfortunately, there is a demand in European societies for such radical right-wing statements and political movements. This threat is present, and it may well be that the new composition of the European Parliament will not be as loyal to Ukraine. Another thing is that now the Ukrainian government and the whole of Ukraine should do everything possible to secure as much out of the European Union as possible before June, because Orban is to start presiding over the European Council on July 1."

Hungary's blockade of EU aid to Ukraine

On December 15, Viktor Orban vetoed the EU's decision on a €50 billion budget assistance program for Ukraine.

On December 15, reports indicated that the EU had found a way to circumvent Orban's blocking of €50 billion in aid to Ukraine and set a date for an extraordinary summit.

On December 21, Orban came up with a new explanation for why he opposes Ukraine's accession to the EU. On the same day, he said he was ready to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

On January 9, reports said that Hungary may lift its veto on the EU's €50 billion aid package to Ukraine, provided that the funding is reviewed annually.

On January 10, despite Hungary's opposition, Brussels voted to start negotiations with the European Parliament on providing Ukraine with €50 billion in macro-financial assistance over the next four years.

Orban assured that he was not against helping Ukraine in general, but emphasized that "we must do it in a way that does not harm the EU budget." The Hungarian prime minister insisted that any financial assistance to Ukraine should be separated from the EU budget and proportional to the economies of the member states.

After meeting with his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban in Budapest, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said he supports his "legitimate" fight against changes to the EU budget to allocate €50 billion in aid to Ukraine.

Tags:
Read also:
  • News
2024, Sunday
15 September
20:51
Exclusive
“No money will go to waste”: Professor Aizenberg on $5.8 billion transfer pending U.S. Congressional approval
20:17
OPINION
Back to Russia's nuclear tests once again
19:45
U.S. military conducts unexpected troop surge to Alaska
19:18
Ukraine might benefit if Сongress rejects Biden's funding extension request - Ukrainian expert
18:46
Northern Donetsk region loses power amid reports of Sloviansk thermal power plant strike
18:19
Interview
U.S. and Europe can increase pressure on Russia in several ways — expert Fried
17:48
Russia hits Kharkiv high-rise with guided aerial bombs, injuring people including children
17:18
Ukrainian precision strike eliminates group of Russian soldiers in Kursk region: video
16:49
OPINION
Putin’s illusion makers must be held accountable as war criminals
16:23
Ukrainian military expert analyzes Russian drone, munitions use in September
15:54
Kadyrov’s Akhmat unit leader says he doesn't care about captured Kadyrovites
15:16
Up to 1,300 Russian soldiers occupy Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant
14:54
Ukraine rejects war freeze: President's Office slams Bild's claims
14:25
Exclusive
Europe cannot force Ukrainians to return home, says political scientist Bobyrenko
13:55
Britain, U.S. concerned over Russia-Iran weapons and nuclear tech exchange – media
13:18
OPINION
"Shadow fleet" shields Russia from sanctions
12:49
164 skirmishes at Russian-Ukrainian front: Russia focuses on Pokrovsk and Kurakhove
12:19
Exclusive
Russia will increase logistical burden on Crimean bridge, Ukrainian Navy says
11:46
Exclusive
Combat operations in Kursk region are highly dynamic, with no defined contact line – Ukrainian military
11:17
Russia attacks Ukraine with nearly 300 drones, 800+ missiles in one week – Zelenskyy
10:47
Russia loses 6 tanks, 23 artillery systems, 1,170 soldiers in a day of war in Ukraine
2024, Saturday
14 September
19:55
Scholz's party calls for creation of contact group for Ukraine-Russia negotiations
19:30
Russian forces kill three farmers near Huliaipole, Zaporizhzhia region
19:08
Netherlands unable to deliver promised additional Patriot system to Ukraine: journalists give reasons
18:46
83 clashes at front: Russian army is active in Pokrovsk, Kurakhove sectors - Ukraine's General Staff
18:25
Exclusive
U.S. vs China: lawmaker on peace initiatives regarding Russia's war against Ukraine
18:07
Ukrainian troops show how they surround Russian forces in Kursk region
17:48
Exclusive
War with Russia won't end even if Ukraine's 1991 borders are restored - 103rd Brigade
17:26
Exclusive
Russia, Iran act as allies now, trying to destroy free world order - American expert Fried
17:05
Guerrillas explore territory of radio plant in Russia's Nizhny Novgorod region
16:44
Exclusive
No peace talks or preconditions for them now - Russian opposition expert Morozov
16:20
NATO could prevent Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, admits Stoltenberg
16:02
Exclusive
Russia to pick convenient moment for next strike if Ukraine doesn't join NATO, EU - expert Fried
15:40
Exclusive
New Russia-Iran deal focuses on adapting missile engines - aviation expert
15:19
Updated
Ukraine returns 103 Ukrainian servicemen from Russian captivity, including 23 Azov defenders
15:00
Ukraine's Defense Ministry authorizes mobile workshops for weapons repair
14:42
Russian army destroys Skhidnyi overpass in Pokrovsk
14:23
OPINION
On Trofimova's 'anti-war' film Russians at War
14:01
Updated
U.S. imposes new sanctions against Russian propaganda: Blinken notes RT's global influence
13:40
Review
Counteroffensive in Kursk region: Russia's goals, Ukraine’s strategy in Horlivka sector. Serhiy Zgurets' column
More news