EU denies access to EUR 10 billion for Hungary
The European Commission has refused to unfreeze EUR 10 billion for Hungary over concerns about democratic backsliding by the country’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Reuters reported on Dec. 13.
The European Commission said Hungary's latest judicial reforms must first be published in the country's official journal to be fully enacted, which would then allow it to unfreeze the EUR 10 billion in development aid for Budapest.
The EC had hoped that the possibility of unfreezing the money would help positively influence Orbán, but his senior aide told Bloomberg on Dec. 12 that Hungary would demand up to EUR 30 billion instead.
The news comes amidst the backdrop of the EU leaders’ summit scheduled for Dec. 14-15 in Brussels, where the bloc will decide whether to initiate membership talks with Ukraine.
The European Commission recommended starting accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova on Nov. 8. However, on Nov. 27, Orbán threatened to disrupt the December summit of EU member states.
On Dec. 4 Orbán said he intended to block the decision to open negotiations for Ukraine’s EU accession, citing its “poor preparation.”
The start of negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the European Union may be postponed until March 2024 due to Hungary's position, Euractiv reported on Dec. 11.
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