On Thursday 18 January, the Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, called for the European Union’s support for Ukraine to be considered on an annual basis and outside the EU budget, rather than through macrofinancial assistance lasting until 2027, as envisaged by the European Commission as part of the revision of the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (see EUROPE 13322/3).
“If we want to help Ukraine, let’s do it outside the EU budget and on an annual basis! This is the only democratic position 5 months before the European elections” in June, wrote Mr Orbán on X.
Since the last European Council, at which the Hungarian Prime Minister vetoed a new €50 billion macro-financial aid package for Ukraine, discussions with Budapest, which is isolated on this point (see EUROPE 13316/29), have been tense.
In the run-up to an extraordinary European summit on Thursday 1 February, intense negotiations are underway in the Council of the EU to find a compromise. For its part, the European Parliament believes that the Twenty-Six should ignore Hungary’s threats (see EUROPE 13330/6).
“The positions are far apart. It is therefore not certain that an agreement will be reached”, said Gergely Gulyás, Mr Orbán's chief of staff, at a press conference on Thursday, according to AFP.
According to a senior European diplomat, three options are on the table: the Ukraine Facility as part of the revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework, the Hungarian proposal and a twenty-six approach. (Original version in French by Bernard Denuit)