Hungary continues to block EU aid to Ukraine, seizing the opportunity to manipulate its veto power in the EU Council. Brussels reacts calmly to Budapest’s actions. They are preparing to reform the EU and remove the veto power of all member states. However, the process may take a long time.
Hungary has once again blocked 500 million euros from the European Peace Fund for military aid to Ukraine.
On the eve of this decision, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that aid to Ukraine was not in the interest of the Hungarian people. Kiev’s claims that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are defending all of Europe at the front do not match the claims.
As is known, Budapest has been opposing the provision of financial aid to Ukraine since May and has blocked the 500 million euro decision, explaining this by including Kiev’s OTP Bank in the list of international sponsors of the war. The bank was later removed from the blacklist, but Budapest was not happy about this. Now Hungary insists on legal guarantees that the solution is permanent.
Relations between Ukraine and Hungary remain difficult. The Budapest government, especially Prime Minister Viktor Orban, continues to make anti-Ukrainian statements in cooperation with the Kremlin. According to experts, although Hungary does not have a serious influence on the EU, this situation should be taken into account in aid to Ukraine as long as it retains the veto right.
populist politics
They say Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban can be called a classic populist Focus political experts. Taking advantage of all the advantages that the EU provides to his country, he harshly criticizes Brussels’ policies, sometimes resorting to very ugly formulations. For example, likening Hungary’s membership of the European Union to a Soviet invasion and calling Brussels an “evil modern parody” of Moscow.
In the EU, Orban’s statements are received democratically calmly. Theoretically, Brussels has influence for those who refuse to abide by the principle of unanimity; countries may reduce or delay subsidies. However, in reality, the use of harsh repression mechanisms is not a common phenomenon in the democratic world. As long as the European Union’s economy is in order, an agreement can be reached with the Hungarian Prime Minister, as the country is heavily dependent on EU monetary support. Orban understands this and takes advantage of his own favorable position to freely criticize Brussels, block supranational decisions and consolidate political preferences within his country.
“Orbán is a classic example of the populist politician who must focus on the problems and then create the appearance of an effective struggle. With reform approaching, there is little time left to fully reap the benefits of the EU. [положений Лиссабонского договора]”He understands this, that’s why he makes such statements,” he says. Focus political expert Igor Reiterovich.
According to the provisions of the Lisbon Treaty amending the Treaty of European Union and the Treaty establishing the European Community, decisions on taxation, foreign policy and security issues are taken unanimously by EU member states. In all other matters, approval by a qualified majority is sufficient.
The principle of unanimity has long caused tension within the EU because it reveals the Union’s incompetence on issues that require an urgent response (for example, on military aid to Ukraine). In June 2022, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen talked about this. It was supported by the head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell.
“European countries are too small to survive in a world of great states. China is a state, the USA is a state, India is a state but We are not a state, we are a club of states. That’s why we need rules that allow us to move faster,” Borrell said.
Reform efforts in the EU continue. In particular, we are talking not only about the deprivation of the community countries of the right of veto in the EU Council, but also about the expansion of the powers of the European Commission and other supranational structures. Experts point out that the EU is a bureaucratic structure in which it is difficult to give up its long-standing working principles. However, at the level of some foreign policy decisions, the “club of states” may switch to the principle of qualified majority.
“Germany is tired of ‘economic dwarfs’ such as Italy, France, Hungary blocking initiatives and having to conduct long negotiations with them as the locomotive of the EU economy. They understand that the European Union will collapse” in the future Budapest or similar countries will undermine democratic values while remaining part of the EU ” says Reiterovich.
There is an election demand
According to experts, the criticisms against Brussels, coming not only from Budapest but also from some politicians in Poland and Slovakia, are explained by the demand for elections. In European countries, the number of people who are disappointed with the EU’s immigration policy and disturbed by Brussels’ interference in the sovereignty of their countries is increasing.
“So far, this situation has not led to disastrous consequences. Hungarians in particular feel comfortable within the EU, despite Orban’s criticism. But for many politicians in power, this form of self-defense is very useful and effective: criticizing and reaping the benefits of it at the same time,” he says Focus political analyst Oleg Posternak.
There are many complaints about the reform of the European Union. First of all, Poland, which hopes to create an alliance of countries within the EU ready to confront France and Germany. Therefore, according to experts, the process will be difficult and full of conflicts. However, as long as it is economically advantageous for all EU member states to be on the same common ground, negotiators will most likely be able to compromise and reach an agreement.
Let us remind you that they are counting on the start of negotiations in Kiev on Ukraine’s accession to the EU before the end of this year. In his speech to the College of European Commissioners in Brussels on October 24, President Vladimir Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine is doing its best to implement the seven recommendations of the European Commission in the face of Russian aggression.
Focus He has previously written that Hungary may continue to manipulate its veto power over Ukraine. Including negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU.
Moreover Focus wrote that according to experts, Kiev fulfills the seven requirements of the European Commission with a B minus. However, there is a good chance that negotiations will start.
Source: Focus
Bridger is a political journalist at 24 News Breaker, covering the Politics section with over 5 years of experience. Known for their detail-oriented reporting, Bridger delivers insightful and engaging analysis on political issues.