A meeting with the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, is planned in the coming weeks. The PMs will discuss possible obstacles to allocating €50 billion from the European Union to Ukraine.
What is known about the planned meeting between Shmyhal and Fico
Shmyhal reminded that the European Council summit will be held on February 1, during which Ukraine is counting on a favourable decision regarding the allocation of financial support for €50 billion under the Ukraine Facility program.
The Prime Minister explained that the program mentioned above involves the allocation of funds and the systemic transformation of Ukraine on the way to the EU.
Our government has formed a draft plan and vision for this process. We have received comments from the European Commission, which we are already processing, the Prime Minister added.
In particular, a meeting with the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, is planned in the coming weeks. They plan to discuss all urgent issues and remove possible obstacles to implementing the Ukraine Facility.
Ukraine Facility program
On October 17, 2023, the European Parliament supported the proposal to create the Ukraine Facility program for 50 billion euros to support Ukraine during 2024-2027.
At the summit of the leaders of the European Union countries on December 14-15, Hungary blocked the decision to allocate the funds mentioned above to Ukraine, in connection with which this issue will be considered again during the summit on February 1 of this year. At the same time, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban threatens to block the program again.
Against this background, the European Parliament initiated the collection of signatures under a petition to deprive Hungary of the right to vote in the Council of the EU. In four days, the required number of signatures had been collected. The European Parliament will consider depriving Hungary of the right to vote on January 18.
