make preferable
The Hungarian government has blocked an agreement on an 18 billion euro aid package for Ukraine, forcing the European Commission and other EU countries to seek an alternative solution to ensure Kiev receives the much-needed funds in January, Politico reported.
The European Commission will consider how to provide Ukraine with the solution it needs as early as January, Johannes Hahn, the European Commissioner for the Budget, said at a public meeting of the bloc's finance ministers. According to EU officials, this would entail something like so-called enhanced cooperation, a legitimate way to avoid a veto.
But the decision would require EU countries to provide national budget guarantees, which in some cases requires parliamentary approval, which could take some time.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban decided to play hardball to get his share of EU reconstruction funds. Brussels has tried to withhold some of the funds earmarked for Budapest.
Hungary's veto means that decisions on all other issues on the finance ministers' agenda - the minimum corporate tax rate, which Budapest is also blocking, the Hungarian recovery plan and related €5.8 billion grants, and the decision to freeze €7.5 billion in EU funds for Hungary on corruption - are delayed.
He instructed the council to work on a solution, supported by 26 member states, that would circumvent Hungary's veto.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban decided to play hardball to get his share of EU reconstruction funds. Brussels has tried to withhold some of the funds earmarked for Budapest.
Hungary's veto means that decisions on all other issues on the finance ministers' agenda - the minimum corporate tax rate, which Budapest is also blocking, the Hungarian recovery plan and related €5.8 billion grants, and the decision to freeze €7.5 billion in EU funds for Hungary on corruption - are delayed.
He instructed the council to work on a solution, supported by 26 member states, that would circumvent Hungary's veto.
