The Hungarian government, accused of "
blackmailing
" Brussels, has announced the sending of bilateral financial aid to Ukraine, and not within the framework proposed by the European Commission for an common help.
“
We are going to provide 187 million euros to Ukraine, from the national budget
”, declared Thursday November 24 on Twitter Balazs Orban, political director of the nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban (no relation), the day after the publication of a decree to that effect.
“
It will be Hungary's contribution to the common EU aid of 18 million euros, but not through a common loan
,” he explained.
European proposal to grant 18 billion euros to Ukraine
Viktor Orban opposed last week the European proposal to grant Ukraine aid of 18 billion euros for 2023, in the form of loans whose interest would be borne by the Member States.
“
Hungary is not going to accept that EU members contract loans together to help Ukraine
,” he insisted, recommending the payment of a sum, divided “
equitably
” between the Twenty-Seven.
The government "
remains committed to financially supporting Ukraine in the face of war
", underlines the decree.
The European Commissioner for the Budget, Johannes Hahn, had considered that this "
blocking
" of Hungary was "
pure political blackmail
".
Read alsoEurope facing the blackmail of Hungary by Viktor Orban
During his 12 years in power, the Hungarian Prime Minister has regularly blocked or threatened to block EU measures, whether on migration issues or sanctions against Russia.
The move comes as Brussels prepares to take a decision on freezing billions of EU funds due to the country's corruption and public procurement issues.
A money that Hungary, in the grip of galloping inflation and a currency, the forint, in free fall, needs more than ever.
The European Parliament recently considered that the 17 measures announced by Hungary were not sufficient and not fully implemented, calling for the continuation of the procedure against Budapest.
The final decision will rest with the Council (Member States), after consulting the Commission.