Hungarian Prime Minister Orban accuses EU

According to reports in the national press, Viktor Orban stated at a press conference, "In our view, Hungary meets all the criteria for the rule of law, and when the EU Commission has specific requests, we implement everything they ask for and cooperate."

Orban stated that the EU's blackmail is real and that this is also acknowledged by members of the European Parliament (EP), adding, "You cannot blame me for doing everything in my power to protect Hungary's interests in such a situation of blackmail."

UKRAINE DISPUTE BETWEEN HUNGARY AND THE EU

Hungary does not support the start of negotiations regarding Ukraine's EU membership or the new 50 billion euro financial aid package.

The decision to begin EU membership negotiations for Ukraine was only reached at the EU Leaders' Summit held in Brussels, Belgium, on December 14-15, after Orban was led out of the room by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to have a coffee. Arguing that the new 50 billion euro aid package for Ukraine should not be provided from the EU budget, Orban had vetoed the package at the EU Summit.

The issue of the 50 billion euro financial aid to Ukraine is expected to be re-evaluated at an extraordinary summit scheduled for February 1 of next year, where EU leaders are set to meet. It is stated that if Orban cannot be persuaded during this process, other formulas that do not require unanimity may be considered.

EU HAD FROZEN BILLIONS OF EUROS IN HUNGARIAN FUNDS

The EU Commission had frozen billions of euros allocated to Hungary from the common EU budget in December 2022 due to concerns over the rule of law in the country. As part of negotiations to ensure Hungary would not veto the start of Ukraine's EU membership talks, 10.2 billion euros of these frozen funds were released on December 13. It is noted that the EU still continues to freeze 21 billion euros allocated to Hungary.

News Source: AA