This will be possible thanks to Hungary’s abstention, diplomatic sources have indicated. However, other sources believe that the Council has based itself on an interpretation of Community law according to which Hungary could not rule on an instrument to which it does not contribute.
European Union (EU) foreign ministers agreed on Monday to grant Ukraine a first tranche of €1.4 billion of windfalls from Russian assets blocked by sanctionswhich will be used to purchase military equipment, community sources have confirmed.
This is legally possible thanks to the constructive abstention from Hungarywho has blocked this case so far, diplomatic sources have indicated.
Other diplomatic sources have explained that the Council is based on a interpretation of Community law according to which Hungary could not comment on an instrument to which it does not contribute.
The EU had already agreed to use the extraordinary proceeds generated by Russian assets immobilized by the sanctions imposed by the invasion of Ukraine to pay for military support to Kiev, so that These are not resources contributed by each Member State.
But now it was necessary to implement that decision, which Hungary, like others, had vetoed to finance military aid to Ukraine through the EU European Peace Support Fund (FEAP). Unanimity is necessary for EU foreign policy decisions.
Upon arrival at the ministerial meeting in Luxembourg today, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security, Joseph Borrellhas said he would propose to the Council a legal method to bypass the Hungarian veto and ensure that Ukraine can benefit from extraordinary returns on frozen Russian assets next week.
Borrell explained that community treaties “provide the legal means to make progress even if some Member States do not want to participate”.
The head of community diplomacy thus hoped to prevent Hungary from blocking money for Ukraine from proceeds from Russian assets, as it does with up to seven legal acts that would allow the disbursement of 6.6 billion euros to finance lethal equipment and not – deadly for Kiev.
Source: EITB
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