The European Commission plans to unfreeze 10 billion euros for Hungary next week. 10 billion euros for Hungary. This is about a third of the country's total funding from the European Union. At the same time, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban doubles down on his opposition to negotiations on Ukraine's accession, but demonstrated flexibility on other issues. This was reported by The Guardian, as reported by UNN.
Details
The European Commission is expected to soon release 10 billion euros of withheld EU funds for Hungary, despite the fact that the of withheld EU funds for Hungary, despite the concerns of some MEPs and civil society groups. civil society groups.
According to diplomats, the funding for Hungary will be unfrozen because the country has implemented judicial reforms necessary to unblock part of the suspended funding. The remaining funds will remain frozen due to non-compliance with other rule of law criteria.
"For the first time, Hungary is actually responding to our requests, and it has has done everything related to the independence of the judiciary, so the money will be released
"The timing is bad because it looks like like a bargain, but it's not," said another diplomat.
MEP Katalin Csokh, a member of Hungary's Momentum, said that Orban "plays the role of a Russian Trojan horse at the European European negotiating table."
Additionally
The position of the Hungarian politician on Ukraine remains unchanged. politician's position on Ukraine remains unchanged. In an interview with Le Point, Viktor Orban reiterated his disapproval of the start of negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU, but hinted at openness to compromise on other issues. Answering the question whether he is absolutely inflexible even if the European Commission unfreezes 10 billion euros for Hungary, the Prime Minister said:
When a dilemma arises, I usually categorize it into three categories: historical, strategic, and tactical. The Ukrainian question is a historical question, a question of scale. The financial issue is a tactical one. My more than forty years of political experience has taught me that you should never link technical issues, such as money, to historical issues. Like money, with historical issues. If you do, you risk complete chaos. So I don't want to reach an agreement on the Ukrainian issue, but I remain fully prepared to do so on other issues.
The Hungarian prime minister denies the European Commission's assessment that Ukraine has made progress. Orban also claims that accepting Ukraine would mean additional costs for the EU budget and serious consequences for agricultural policy.
Ukraine is a large country with an important agricultural sector. If you allow this agriculture to enter the European agricultural system, it will destroy it the next day. agriculture, it will destroy it the next day. Without transforming our system of agricultural subsidies, we will not be able to let them in. The consequences will be dire.