EUCO: Don't tolerate blackmail from Hungary

Photo: archive eppgroup

Leading MEPs from the EPP group have described Hungary's veto against the revision of the EU's long-term budget as "a cynical move pursuing selfish political interests". They urge EU leaders to seek a swift agreement when talks on the revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework resume in January.

"Thursday's historic decision to open accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova proves once again that European unity is possible despite difficult circumstances. While 26 EU Member States agreed on a position on the EU's long-term budget, only one was against - Hungary. We urge EU leaders to push for a swift and fair agreement on the revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework and the much needed €50 billion facility for Ukraine without further delay," said EPP Vice-Chair Siegfried Mureşan.

MEPs also expressed serious concern about the proposed cuts in the EU budget until 2027, which cut funding from important EU programmes such as EU4Health, Horizon, the new competitiveness instrument STEP and others.

"It is worrying that EU leaders have not been able to agree on a position for the negotiations on the revision of the Union's long-term budget. The current long-term EU budget (Multiannual Financial Framework) should be adequate enough to meet the commitments made in the EU's major funding programmes. The EU budget is a powerful tool and is essential to respond to any unforeseen crisis. It is extremely worrying that we are now in a very precarious situation until negotiations resume in January," warned MEP Jan Olbrycht, the European Parliament's lead negotiator on the mid-term review of the MFF.

José Manuel Fernandes MEP, spokesman for the EPP's budget group, criticised the role of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in this outcome: 'The European Council left these crucial negotiations to the last minute, even though we have repeatedly warned that the Multiannual Financial Framework is already overstretched and in some places there is almost no margin left. And now, with yet another postponement, the MFF is in chaos. The Hungarian veto must be condemned for what it is: a cynical move for selfish political interests. Prime Minister Orbán should be ashamed of his actions - blocking aid to Ukraine, which defends European democracy on the battlefield every day. Such an approach cannot be tolerated at EU level. We do not tolerate blackmail of any kind."

Eppgroup/GN.CZ-JaV_07

https://www.eppgroup.eu/newsroom/euco-don-t-tolerate-blackmail-from-hungary