Hungary enrages the EU by blocking EUR 18 Billion in Ukraine Aid

The German Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, has cautioned Budapest not to “play poker” with essential funding. On Thursday, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock criticized Hungary for delaying €18 billion in EU financial help to Ukraine, saying that Budapest should stop playing “play poker” with Brussels in a separate rule-of-law conflict as if they were at safe and secure online casinos. Baerbock’s objection was repeated by numerous EU diplomats who accused the administration of Viktor Orbán of extortion.

The European Commission recommended an €18 billion aid package on Wednesday to assist Ukraine to maintain its economy and public services running for the coming year, as well as to rebuild crucial infrastructure devastated by Russian missile strikes According to three officials, Hungary stated it could not endorse the assistance package during an EU ambassadors’ meeting on Wednesday. This is a potentially deadly stumbling block since the €18 billion support package to Ukraine for 2023 cannot be transferred without the support of all 27 EU members due to budget regulations requiring unanimity.

Wrecking Ball

Hungary’s wrecking ball has enraged Brussels, Berlin, and other EU cities. Four EU officials and diplomats said that Budapest’s blockage of Ukraine aid was a blackmail tactic to put pressure on the EU to release over €13 billion for Hungary, which could be imposed next month if the state does not address longstanding concerns about democratic backsliding.

On Thursday, Baerbock Entered the Fray

“Our financial, humanitarian support [to Ukraine] within the framework of winter aid is not a normal EU thing where people got used to playing poker and debate back and forth about financial resources,” the German foreign minister told correspondents in response to a question about whether Hungary was attempting to force the EU to make concessions in the rule-of-law dispute.

“We are in a scenario where we are saving lives exactly because of the financial help from Europe,” Baerbock said during a news conference in Berlin alongside her Swedish colleague, Tobias Billström.

“We are witnessing that at least 30%, if not 40%, of civilian infrastructure [in Ukraine] has been damaged,” she continued, saying that the EU assistance package must be approved soon since “winter is just around the horizon.”

Hungary Is Willing to Support Ukraine, but…

The Permanent Representation of Hungary to the EU did not respond to a request for comment. Hungary’s Finance Minister Mihály Varga attempted to defend Hungary’s objection to the EU assistance package on Tuesday, saying, “Hungary is willing to support Ukraine, but we do not desire to contribute to any new loan that the EU will take up.”

Hungary is facing mounting financial pressure as the EU threatens to withhold around €7.5 billion in EU money for the nation under a mechanism that connects budget allocations to rule-of-law standards, as well as an extra €5.8 billion in COVID recovery funds. To get the money, Brussels wants anti-corruption and judicial reforms. It is just like playing at casinos from the BestAuCasinosOnline ratings – one wrong step can cost you too much or make you a millionaire overnight.

On Thursday evening, the parliament of Germany is poised to pass a resolution urging the government to “thoroughly” evaluate Hungary’s changes and only release funds if Budapest can demonstrate its commitment to reform. The issue is expected to be resolved at a meeting of European finance ministers later in December.