Viktor Orban recalled in a video published on social media that negotiations on financial aid for Kiev broke down in December because Budapest “did not obtain a solution to two Hungarian issues.”
– We were afraid that the EU money, which the European Commission has not given us so far, would sooner or later go to Ukraine – said Orban. – We were also afraid that we were putting funds at Ukraine’s disposal for too long and without control – he added. He said After long negotiations, Budapest received a satisfactory offer and decided to accept it. – I am glad that the reaction of the markets and the business community to this agreement is already positive – he added.
The rest of the article is below the video
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50 billion euros for Ukraine
The draft revision of the EU budget for 2021-2027, related to the proposal, also assumes, among others, increasing funds for migration and border management by EUR 2 billion, for neighborhood policy – by EUR 7.6 billion, and for the European Defense Fund – by EUR 1.5 billion.
In December, despite the opening of EU accession talks with Ukraine, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban vetoed the EU’s transfer of EUR 50 billion in aid to Ukraine, as well as the revision of the EU budget for 2021-2027. Therefore, the President of the European Council decided to convene a special EU summit in Brussels on February 1, hoping to reach an agreement with Orban.
At the same time, the EU was working on an alternative solution, in which 26 countries agree on aid for Ukraine without the participation of Hungary.
The agreement on assistance to Ukraine was reached following negotiations in a small group before the official start of the summit. The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and her boss European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, together with the leaders of France, Germany and Italy – Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz and Giorgia Meloni – held a closed meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. They were later joined by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo.
Donald Tusk: “there was no fear”
– The fact that all the Scandinavian and Baltic states, Poland and Ireland had such a clear position, also towards Viktor Orban, and this entire group was ready to make tough decisions, the clear position presented by the head of the EC, Ursula von der Leyen, from the very beginning, meant that there was no fear that the committee would seek compromises or rewards for anyone in the process – commented Donald Tusk following the summit.
In his opinion, “this unambiguity resulted in the withdrawal of ideas such as that 27 countries – including Hungary – would agree to the IFF (Multiannual Financial Framework – PAP), i.e. to the entire project, but excluding Ukraine, and the aid for Ukraine would be twenty-six countries to deal with.
According to the Politico website, European leaders managed to convince Viktor Orban with three additions to the summit’s conclusions. First of all, the European Commission will prepare an annual report on the implementation of the Ukrainian aid package. Secondly, there will be an annual debate at the level of EU leaders on this topic. Finally, “if necessary”, in two years’ time the European Council will ask the Commission to propose a review of the implementation of the package.
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