John Thies/AFP
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán presented his conditions for opening European aid to Ukraine before the European media in Brussels here on December 14.
Europe – He fulfilled his threat. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has vetoed new EU financial aid to Ukraine. Hours after walking out of the chamber during a vote on Kyiv’s EU accession talks (allowing them to open), he opposed the EU’s release of an additional 50 billion euros.
European leaders will meet in January to try to agree again. Until then, they can pay close attention to the condition the Hungarian leader set for changing their minds: the release of all European funds intended for his country.
“I have always said that if there is an amendment to the EU budget (…), Hungary will take the opportunity to clearly demand what it deserves. Not half, not football, but everything”, announced Viktor Orban on Hungarian state radio this Friday, December 15. The European Union actually prevents the payment of part of these sums due to Budapest’s failure to respect the rule of law and certain fundamental rights.
10 billion have been opened, 21 are still frozen
On Tuesday, a few hours before the European summit, the European Commission made its first gesture towards Hungary: the release of 10 billion euros. Widely criticized in the European Parliament “Blackmail” Hungarian), the decision was justified by the reform of the Hungarian judiciary adopted earlier in the week. Viktor Orbán’s government is committed to improving the independence of the judiciary, but progress has been deemed insufficient by the leader’s opponents close to Vladimir Putin.
Also, 21 billion euros have been blocked as part of several procedures. The European Commission is particularly concerned with anti-LGBT legislation, attacks on academic freedom and the right to asylum, public procurement conditions and conflicts of interest.
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