Politico: EU politicians shocked by Orbán’s threats
European Union politicians had initially brushed aside Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s recent statements regarding the upcoming EU summit, but now they are viewing them as potential blackmail.
The remarks from Prime Minister Orbán over the past day appear to be more than just political theatre over the release of EU funds, suggests portfolio.hu.
According to Politico, there may be a more significant political deal at play. Many speculate that Orbán might wield a veto against the EU summit’s decision to initiate accession talks with Ukraine if such discussions were to arise.
“If we can’t, we shouldn’t start negotiations. So I will take the position that the EU should sign a strategic partnership agreement with Ukraine first,” Orbán stated in a Friday morning interview with Hungarian radio.
In response, Charles Michel, President of the European Council of Heads of State and Government, officially tasked with setting the agenda for EU summits, pointed out that a strategic partnership between Ukraine and the EU already exists.
However, Viktor Orbán also told the radio that he firmly rejects the idea of opening accession negotiations with Ukraine. “Ukraine’s EU membership and the opening of negotiations on its accession today do not coincide with Hungary’s national interests. Therefore, it should not be done.”
Later, he also said on X that the EC had not done its homework and argued that Ukraine’s accession would adversely impact Hungarian farmers.
The next EU summit
The upcoming EU summit on 14 and 15 December raises doubts about unanimous support for initiating accession talks with Ukraine.
Over the weekend, Viktor Orbán repeatedly slammed Ukraine’s EU accession on several platforms. Politico reported on Monday morning that the Hungarian prime minister’s statements had sent shockwaves among decision-makers and diplomats in Brussels.
This has led many to speculate that Orbán might indeed wield a veto against Ukraine’s accession, especially if Charles Michel not only places the issue on the EU summit agenda but also calls for a vote.
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On what basis does Ukraine’s accession into the EU “not coincide with Hungary’s national interests” as stated by Orban? It obviously does not coincide with Russia’s national interests and therefore Orban will maintain that it does not coincide with Hungary’s,
a sane EU would see this and just continue to block the funds from flowing to the Fidesz autocracy.
This is an excerpt from WAPO article on 4/12/23.
Ukraine aid proponents have failed to secure victory or end the conflict. This failure has come at great cost to U.S. taxpayers and to the Ukrainian people. Mr. Zelensky’s senior officials admit the war has reached an intractable stalemate and that hundreds of billions in foreign aid has fueled rampant corruption.
Zelensky promised spring offensive, then summer offensive and then fall offensive, they all fizzled. Women are now protesting, wanting their husbands home who were assigned to the front indefinitely.
What is the EU thinking of allowing Ukraine to join. Minorities are still oppressed in the Ukraine. Borders are uncertain.
Prior to this time, the EU had standards about admitting countries into the club. It has held up Turkey’s and Serbia’s membership yet considering Ukraine’s; Ukraine that is in turmoil.
There was never any guarantee that Hungary would support Ukraine’s entry either to the EU or NATO until the war ended, corruption eliminated, minority rights are restored, and free elections are held.
This is an excerpt from WAPO article on 4/12/23.
Ukraine aid proponents have failed to secure victory or end the conflict. This failure has come at great cost to U.S. taxpayers and to the Ukrainian people. Mr. Zelensky’s senior officials admit the war has reached an intractable stalemate and that hundreds of billions in foreign aid has fueled rampant corruption.
Zelensky promised spring offensive, then summer offensive and then fall offensive, they all fizzled. Women are now protesting, wanting their husbands home who were assigned to the front indefinitely.
What is the EU thinking of allowing Ukraine to join. Minorities are still oppressed in the Ukraine. Borders are uncertain. Prior to this time, the EU had standards about admitting countries into the club. It has held up Turkey’s and Serbia’s membership yet considering Ukraine’s; Ukraine that is in turmoil.
There was never any guarantee that Hungary would support Ukraine’s entry either to the EU or NATO until the war ended, corruption eliminated, minority rights are restored, and free elections are held.
@mariavontheresa – could you post the link? Going through the WAPO (left center bias) Ukraine coverage … However, most if not all in the past week – and there is a lot – are pro-Ukraine in one way or other. Thanks!
Re “Ukraine joining the EU” – my wager is that this is going to be a process of a decade or more. The country just does not fit the current EU mold (size, population, economy, utter devastation), and there are a host of matters to be addressed, known as the Copenhagen criteria: https://neighbourhood-enlargement.ec.europa.eu/enlargement-policy/glossary/accession-criteria_en
90ֵ% of EU money to Hungary is stolen by the Viktator and his friends, it’s better if the EU won’t give one cent to Hungary as long as the Viktator is in power.
The on-going Feud led by the Hungarian Prime Minister – Victor Orban between Hungary and the European Union, its nadir, continues to descend into darker times.
Orban simple just can’t shut up, continuing to add “fuel to the fire” adding to the cataclysmic gargantuan mess already in existence, through Orban, that see’s factually Hungary, whilst the name Victor Orban has any association in matters dealt with between Hungary & the European Union, that Hungary will be the BIG looser.
My biggest worry – all the political posturing and reasoning aside, is that when our Politicians´ ally PiS gets deposed on December 11, they will be replaced by Mr. Tusk et al.
This means there is nobody left in the EU Member group to cover for Mr. Orbán’s shenanigans.
Speaking of The Mouse That Roared – this could potentially be a Rémi without the happy ending for Hungary.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sans_Famille
Conservatism is growing in EU. Elections for EU Parliament are fast approaching. The results will reflect whether populism is the correct way to govern rather than globalism.
Was the “article,” quoted in WAPO was a opinion editorial?
I could not find the article either and the tone of the statement certainly doesn’t sound like WAPO.