The ambassadors of the Twenty-seven countries of the European Union (EU) They gave the green light this Wednesday to 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine that the leaders agreed to last December, and the twentieth sanctions package, after lifting its veto Hungary, after kyiv has announced that Russian oil supply through the Druzhba pipeline is guaranteed again.
The effect of the elections in Hungary is beginning to be felt. The outgoing Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, has ended the blockade on two fundamental decisions for the EU. The first, unblock credit to kyiv, It is essential to guarantee the economic viability of Ukraine for the next two years. The second, approve a new sanctions packageis essential to continue increasing pressure on the Kremlin.
Orbán stopped both decisions after Russian bombing will damage the Druzhba pipelinestopping the supply of Russian oil to Hungary. The president of Ukraine, Volodímir Zelenski, announced on Tuesday that they had repaired the infrastructure and the crude oil will flow again. This was the condition of the outgoing prime minister to approve the credit and restrictive measures against Moscow.
This Wednesday, The ambassadors of the Twenty-seven countries of the bloc have endorsed both credit and sanctions. Now what is known as written procedure. In practice, governments have twenty-four hours to show their opposition. If no one does, The loan and the measures will be formally approved this Thursday.
The change of government, an opportunity
“After the Hungarian elections, a new impulse is observed, and I expect a positive decision on the 90 billion loan in the next 24 hours,” he said. the head of European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, during a press conference after meeting with the bloc’s foreign ministers. That loan must cover a third of Ukraine’s economic needs for the next two years.
“The ministers also urged move quickly with the 20th sanctions package“added the Estonian who is already working on the next package of measures, to continue increasing pressure on Moscow. She does so in the hope that it will be easier to work with the new Hungarian government. The high representative for foreign policy of the bloc hopes that this will also allow advance accession negotiations with kyiv.
After Orbán’s departure, however, Bulgaria will have a pro-Russian prime minister. Rumen Radev has opposed giving military aid to kyiv in the past. Besides, advocates resuming diplomatic relations with Moscow and lift sanctions. Kallas avoided commenting on the matter, arguing that we will have to wait for a new Bulgarian government and how it positions itself.
The destructive veto
The leaders of the European Union They agreed in December give a loan to Ukraine worth 90 billion euros. That loan will be financed issuing joint debt using the community budget as collateral, after the plan to make use of Russian assets immobilized will fail.
Despite the Hungary’s reluctance to support Ukraine militarily, politically and economicallyOrbán supported the decision, in exchange for his country not having to put up a forint. The loan to Ukraine will be given using a legal mechanism, the enhanced cooperationwhich does not require the participation of all countries. In this way, Hungary, Slovakia or the Czech Republic do not technically participate.
However, putting it into operation required several legislative texts that established under what conditions the money would be disbursed, which only required a majority. But also a modification of the budget regulation community that requires unanimity. This is the decision that the Hungarian government has kept blocked for months.
After the change of government in Budapest, which Brussels openly celebrated, lPresident of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyenopened the door to ending unanimous decisions to avoid these types of problems. “Move towards the vote for qualified majority in foreign policy It is an important way of avoid systemic blockagesas we have seen in the past,” said von der Leyen. A measure that, however, does not seem to be shared by the Twenty-Seven, at least for the moment.
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