Hungary blocks EU billions for Kyiv
At the meeting of EU finance ministers, Hungary has refused to approve 18 billion euros in financial aid for Ukraine. Although Prime Minister Viktor Orbán denies it, the veto is widely interpreted as a means of putting pressure on Brussels to turn a blind eye to Hungary's deficits in the area of the rule of law. The decision on the EU Commission's proposal to freeze certain EU funds for Hungary has been postponed.
Show the troublemaker who's the boss
The Hungarian head of government is brazenly exploiting the EU's need for consensus, the Wiener Zeitung criticises:
“The long-term prime minister with an authoritarian twist is a master at using Europe's tendency to seek compromise as a lever. ... The veto is still a reality right now. At the same time, unity and decisiveness are more important than ever in view of the multiple crises. Orbán rightly sees this as an opportunity. The EU Council must find an answer to this dilemma. Here, too, what is needed is a demonstration of unity vis-à-vis the government in Budapest. But in the midst of the crises this is even more difficult than usual. The EU is not designed for 'either-or' but for 'both-this-and-that'. Much to Orbán's delight.”
Hungarians will pay the price
Budapest is overestimating its influence here, Népszava complains:
“With its veto, the government has no doubt made the decision on subsidies for Hungary easier for the member states. There are those [in Hungary] who in their parallel world still seem convinced that we can tell the European Union what to do, but they've got this backwards. This will end in defeat, and that will hurt us all.”
A dilemma for Italy
If there is a vote on whether Brussels should freeze billions in subsidies for Hungary, the right-wing governing coalition in Rome will be forced to choose sides, notes La Repubblica:
“Because in the case of a qualified majority vote, the country could tip the scales between pro-Orbán and anti-Orbán factions. Last month the Fratelli d'Italia and Lega already voted to defend Hungary in the European Parliament. But to do so in the Council as well would mean putting themselves on Europe's blacklist once and for all.”