EU aims to bribe Hungary to support Kiev as more allies take step back
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The European Parliament wants to secure Budapest's vote to pass financial aid to Ukraine in the EU budget.
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The head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during an EU Parliament meeting in Belgium, Brussels in 2022 (AFP)
The European Commission is contemplating releasing €13 billion ($13.6 billion) to Hungary in exchange for Budapest's endorsement of a revised collective budget that includes more financial aid for Ukraine, according to the Financial Times citing sources informed on the matter.
Funds will be released during November as European authorities seek to gain the approval of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban; a public opposer to the West's role in the Ukraine war who announced earlier that he will stand in the way of more support to Kiev in the EU budget until he can access the frozen money assets.
Read more: Kiev on shaky grounds as Poland, Slovakia cut arms supplies
The European Commission put a hold on 22 billion euros last December designated for Hungary, claiming concerns about human rights and legal standards in the nation. To address this, Budapest initiated judicial changes in May. Commission representative Stefan de Keersmaecker mentioned that they reached out to Budapest on September 26, seeking "clarifications" regarding these reforms.
"As soon as Hungary will have replied to these questions, the commission will continue its assessment," he said.
That said, the European Parliament might block the decision to allocate certain funds to Budapest. According to the newspaper, the parliament was critical of Brussels for its apparent leniency towards Orban. While the EU parliament doesn't have the authority to stop the fund transfer directly, a decision to prevent Hungary's access to the money could lead to a postponement in the ratification of the new EU budget.
Read more: Borrell expects $5.4 Billion from EU states in annual aid to Ukraine
The proposed new budget includes an increase of 66 billion euros, a portion of which will fund a 50-billion-euro financial aid program for Ukraine. To approve this draft budget, however, the European Commission requires unanimous agreement.
