During her term, Vera Jourová has been behind numerous punitive measures against Hungary. Continue reading
On Monday, the Financial Times reported that a document drafted by EU officials argues that if a decision is not made on Ukraine’s EUR 50 billion financial aid at Thursday’s extraordinary EU summit, Member States will publicly say that they cannot see Hungary receiving the funds it is due and suggest that these resources should be withdrawn altogether.
A factual background document was indeed prepared by the EU Council Secretariat on the outlook for the Hungarian economy, but contrary to the Financial Times article, it does not outline any plan against the government, an EU official who asked not to be named told Radio Free Europe. Although EU Commissioner for Values and Transparency Vera Jourová, arriving at a meeting of EU ministers in Brussels, warned that if the rule of law situation in Hungary deteriorates, Brussels will again cut off EU funds, this whole case has nothing to do with the outcome of the coming negotiations on Ukraine’s aid.
Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib, responding to a journalist’s question on the issue of the financial aid, said that the most important thing was for all 27 Member States to reach an agreement on Thursday, and that the current Belgian Presidency of the EU Council would work hard to achieve this.
After the summit on Thursday we will see what the alternative is. But the aim is to reach a unanimous agreement. The same draft will be negotiated as the last summit in December,”
she added.
János Bóka, Hungary’s EU Affairs Minister, allegedly told Financial Times that Budapest had sent a new proposal to Brussels on Saturday, stating that it was now open to using the EU budget to finance the Ukraine package, and even to issuing joint debt to finance it, if other conditions were added to give Hungary the possibility to change its mind later.
Radio Free Europe, however, writes that
no new Hungarian proposals were submitted on Saturday, so the government’s position has not changed.
This means that Hungary would be ready to contribute to the four-year support package for Ukraine within the EU27 and within the MFF (Multiannual Financial Framework), but on condition that it would have to be confirmed annually by unanimous decision.
Via MTI, Financial Times, Radio Free Europe; Featured image: Facebook/European Commission