European Union
The French president accuses the Hungarian prime minister of being dishonest with the public about his reasons for vetoing aid
Viktor Orbán should not be allowed to take the EU “hostage,” Emmanuel Macron said, after the Hungarian prime minister blocked a €50 billion EU aid package for Ukraine in the early hours of Friday.
As European Union leaders begin working on the details of Plan B to raise the money through cash and loans, the French president said Orbán was being dishonest with the public about his reasons for vetoing it financial package and would ultimately prevail.
The failure to provide more aid to support Ukraine's budget over the next four years was a major blow to Kiev, even after the European Union took the symbolic step of agreeing to start accession negotiations.
EU leaders will meet again in January or February to try to get the funding package approved by all member states, arguing that Orbán's decision was self-harm.
“The question is how we move forward together. And for me, the next few months are crucial months for Hungary and for us,” Macron said.
Macron: I expect Viktor Orbán to behave like a European – video
Diplomats and EU leaders have made it clear they would prefer the Ukraine fund to come from the central budget, but if not they could raise the €50bn (£43bn), made up of €17bn in cash and €33bn Billions of euros in loans for Ukraine without Orbán.
“I think we can finance Ukraine if we are completely blocked next year,” Macron told reporters after the EU summit in Brussels.
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said he was “a little disappointed” they couldn't agree on the budget, but “it's not a catastrophe in the sense that we can now extend the loans to Ukraine.”
He added: “The money will continue to flow to Ukraine over the next few months and when we return here in January or February, hopefully we can agree on a package of financial support for Ukraine.”
Macron predicted that Hungarians would continue to defend their “legitimate national interests,” but expected them to “go beyond posturing,” show responsibility and “behave like Europeans and not hold political progress hostage.”
Orbán, who has repeatedly tried to exploit disagreements with other EU leaders for his electoral advantage in the past, said on state radio that he had blocked the aid package to ensure that Budapest received money from the EU budget due to were frozen by concerns about the rule of law in Hungary.
“It is a great opportunity for Hungary to make it clear that it must get what it is entitled to. Not half or a quarter,” he said. The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, restored Hungary's access to 10.2 billion euros in frozen funds on Wednesday after Budapest passed legislation that addresses some of the EU's concerns. However, funds worth several billion euros remain frozen.
Russia praised Hungary for blocking aid. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Budapest “unlike many European countries resolutely defends its interests, which impresses us.”
The crisis summit in Brussels ended budget talks at 3 a.m. on Friday after EU leaders decided not to further isolate Hungary.
Seven hours earlier, he had made good on his threat to veto their decision to allow negotiations to begin on Ukraine's EU membership bid, after new details emerged on Friday of what is now being dubbed the “Sholz moment.”
In an unusual diplomatic maneuver, German Chancellor Orbán suggested it was a good time to have a coffee as talks over enlargement had stalled.
Orbán left the room knowing full well what was going to happen, and when he returned everyone was laughing, one diplomat said.
“Someone asked him, 'How was your coffee?' He wasn't very happy and told them he had “taken the opportunity to go to the toilet”.
“We agree with 26 countries. There is currently no agreement from Hungary, but I am very confident for next year,” said Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
“I am confident that the 26 members want this,” said Kaja Kallas, the Estonian prime minister. “As long as he [Orbán] says the wrong things but does the right things, we’re okay.”
Orbán remained defiant on Friday over the decision to move forward with Ukraine's EU membership, telling his home audience that he could block accession at many points in the years-long process.
But behind the scenes, Macron maintained that Orbán would not impede talks due to begin next spring when a report due in March shows that Ukraine has completed the remaining reforms needed for the first stop on the formal accession path .
“If the conditions that are objectively determined and measured by the [European ] If the Commission is not met, there will be no start to negotiations. On the other hand, whether these rules are being followed and I asked him [Orbán] When asked, he told me that he would not block if that were the case,” Macron said.
The leaders also discussed the war in the Middle East, possible sanctions against Israeli settlers involved in violence in the West Bank and the rise in anti-Semitism.
No conclusions or decisions were planned, but Varadkar said the majority of countries were moving towards a “humanitarian ceasefire”.
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