“Hungary will not assume any financial obligations or legal responsibilities towards Ukraine that would place a burden on the Hungarian people and the Hungarian budget,” Minister for European Affairs János Bóka said on Tuesday in Brussels.
Regarding the ongoing negotiations on financing Ukraine, the Minister said that talks are continuing, but no breakthrough has been achieved so far. In his opinion, the leaders of the EU member states will ultimately have to take a position on the issue at this week’s meeting of the European Council, which brings together the leaders of the member states.
However, he added that the meeting provides an opportunity for positions to clash again. János Bóka emphasized that, according to Hungary’s position, decisions on financial support for Ukraine can only be made if they do not hinder the peace process led by U.S. President Donald Trump.
He pointed out that, in parallel with the current meeting, negotiations are also taking place in Berlin and elsewhere, which is why it is particularly important that European decisions strengthen rather than weaken the peace process.
He emphasized that Hungary has made it clear on numerous occasions that it can only support solutions that comply with international law and EU law. The minister stressed that Hungary does not support “innovative legal solutions” that would allow decisions to be made in circumvention of the letter and spirit of the treaties.
The institutional functioning of the European Union must be based on treaties and legislation,”
he said.
Regarding the use of frozen Russian assets as a compensation loan to Ukraine, János Bóka said that this is currently the only proposal under discussion. However, in his opinion, there are a number of legal and financial obstacles that have not yet been overcome, and therefore Hungary does not support this solution.
The minister also mentioned that EU enlargement policy is on the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting. He said: Hungary cannot support the draft conclusions presented by the Presidency because “the enlargement policy has become unbalanced.”
“It paints an unjustifiably negative picture of the processes in Georgia and the Western Balkans, and in the case of Ukraine, it is based on an inaccurate assessment of the situation and unrealistic political objectives,” he said. He added that the text also carries the risk that technical decisions related to enlargement will be made in circumvention of current practice and EU rules.
Hungary rejects this and will veto it,”
he stated.
The meeting will also discuss the European Union’s next seven-year budget. János Bóka said that Hungary’s position is clear: no agreement can be reached on a new multiannual financial framework until Hungary has received the funds it is entitled to from the previous cycle. He emphasized that meaningful negotiations are only possible on real resources that cannot be withdrawn on the basis of political or ideological considerations.
Via MTI; Featured photo: Facebook/Bóka János
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