The EU has ‘Plan B’ if Hungary vetoes 50 billion euros in aid for Ukraine. As Kyiv fights to repel Russia’s invasion 21 months into the conflict, the European Union will be able to circumvent any Hungarian veto and provide Ukraine with 50 billion euros ($53.4 billion) in aid, officials in the union stated.
The European Union’s 27 member states are scheduled to vote on the package during a December 14–15 meeting. The bloc’s leadership has suggested increasing financial support to help Ukraine pay salaries and other bills as the conflict progresses.
However, some are concerned that Viktor Orban, Hungary’s prime minister, who has previously opposed similar funding and emphasized his connections to Moscow, would obstruct the aid. The support of every member state must be obtained for such payouts from the joint EU budget.
Hungary did not answer a request for comment right away. Should Budapest use its veto, two EU sources stated that the EU may circumvent it by requesting that each member state establish a separate aid package with Kyiv. The total sum of the bilateral agreements would be the same.
Hungary might be overly optimistic. Although we would much rather have them on board, there comes a time when people can no longer stand Budapest keeping everyone hostage. One EU official remarked, “The workaround is tedious, but we have it if necessary.
A second EU official concurred, speaking as well under anonymity. “The issue of money for Ukraine will be solved one way or another; Kyiv will get EU support,” stated the source.
“If Hungary becomes an obstacle to the needed unanimity to do it via the EU budget, member states will find another way, like an intergovernmental agreement or national guarantees.”
A similar plan to provide Ukraine with 18 billion euros in financial aid in 2023 was blocked by Hungary last year.
Budapest ultimately gave up on the package after months of haggling, claiming to have gained concessions from the union on aid to Hungary and learning that the EU would find a similar backdoor to get it through. During a question this week, European Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis stated that if Hungary blocks, the EU would take that course once more:
“Yes, we did talk about ‘Plan B’ last year. However, we managed to avert this situation the previous year. I’m hoping that this year we can likewise stay away from this situation.”
With more than ten years in office, Orban has engaged in more acrimonious disputes with other EU members about various topics, like foreign policy, immigration, LGBT rights, and democratic norms.
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