The European Commission has approved the allocation of 900 million euros from frozen advance payments to the Hungarian recovery fund to overcome Hungary's veto on the adoption of military aid to Ukraine and other important decisions.
What is known about the EU's plan to overcome Hungary's veto on aid to Ukraine
According to representatives of the European Commission, this is the first official permission from Brussels to transfer frozen funds since December last year.
If Hungary supports the decision regarding Ukraine and the issue of expanding the EU budget, 900 million euros will be transferred to the government.
Sustainability of Hungary, which includes a chapter on REPowerEU. The plan is now valued at €10.4 billion (€6.5 billion in grants and €3.9 billion in loans).
According to this decision, the Hungarian authorities will not receive the money immediately. Still, they will have to satisfy several conditions, including judicial reform, strengthening the fight against corruption, and reforming the work of audit and control systems.
It is noted that the decision was made against the background of a long-standing dispute regarding Hungary's violation of democratic standards.
Last year, the EU suspended more than $30 billion in funding for Budapest over rule of law and corruption concerns. Orban needs these funds after a prolonged recession and budget crisis.
The Eurocouncil will have four weeks to approve the European Commission's assessment and allow Hungary to receive the funds.
It is not known whether Hungary has committed to the European Union to lift the veto after unfreezing funding from the EU.
What is known about Hungary's blocking of military aid to Ukraine
The European Commission excluded Hungary from the economic stimulus program to overcome the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic due to signs of corruption and the retreat of the Orbán government from the principles of democracy.
After that, Hungary imposed a de facto veto on the EU's decision to provide Ukraine with economic aid for 50 billion euros until 2027 and the start of negotiations with Kyiv on joining the European Union.
Orbán's government also blocked the EU's plan for military aid to Ukraine for 20 billion euros and opposed strengthening sanctions against Russia.
