In addition to the situation in the Middle East, Ukraine is at the top of the agenda of the EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday. Before the start of the meeting, several participants directly or indirectly criticized the Hungarian blockade against the release of further funds through the European Peace Facility.
“We want peace, Ukraine needs support in all dimensions,” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Monday. Germany will make a further 60 million euros available for humanitarian aid. The money will mainly flow to eastern Ukraine. Baerbock emphasized how “important acting together is for us as Europeans. We have seen in the past two years that Europe is strong when it acts as one.”
“There are areas, especially in security policy, where we must decide unanimously. When it comes to humanitarian support, we need all voices,” she said, “a strong appeal to Hungary” to allow further support to Ukraine. Hungary is currently blocking further release of funds through the European Peace Facility. According to observers, the background is that EU funds for Hungary are still frozen due to violations of the rule of law.
Long list of critics
“Belgium’s position is clear: we cannot accept that a single country is blocking this crucial aid to Ukraine,” said Hadja Lahbib, Minister of Foreign Affairs and current representative of the Presidency. “We have to take responsibility.” Ukraine “desperately needs” this help now. She recalled that Hungary agreed to support Ukraine at the EU summit a few months ago.
Her Lithuanian counterpart Gabrielis Landsbergis also criticized the Hungarian blockade: the EU must find a way around it. He views Hungary’s continued vetoes over key EU decisions as a “systematic approach against the EU’s efforts to play an important role in foreign policy.”
French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné emphasized that finding new financing options is currently the “main challenge in this war,” without mentioning the Hungarian veto by name. Military support is also relevant for France: “We want to produce more in the EU.”
Even more on the agenda
Ukraine’s peace conference in Switzerland and the EU’s security commitments will also be discussed with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Monday. Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP) participates on behalf of Austria.
Source: Krone
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