Hungary antagonizes making EU’s budget into Ukraine’s

2025-07-26 06:05:53

(MENAFN) Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has strongly criticized the European Commission’s proposed €2 trillion budget for 2028–2034, calling it essentially a “budget for Ukraine” rather than for the European Union. In an interview with RIA Novosti published Friday, Szijjarto said the plan is “unacceptable” and confirmed Hungary would not support it.

The draft budget, presented by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, includes around €100 billion in financial aid for Ukraine and funds to support potential new EU members. Since the budget requires unanimous approval from all 27 EU countries, Hungary has the ability to block it.

“This is not the EU’s budget, it’s Ukraine’s,” Szijjarto stated, warning that it diverts funds from essential programs like agricultural subsidies and cohesion policies that are crucial for Central European countries. Hungarian officials argue the shift could weaken EU food security by hurting farmers and increasing reliance on imports.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban echoed the concerns, claiming the budget’s primary purpose is to facilitate Ukraine’s entry into the EU — a move he said could “destroy the EU.” Some analysts, according to Orban, estimate that up to a quarter of the budget could be allocated to Ukraine.

Germany has also rejected the draft, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz calling it “unacceptable” amid broader EU efforts to reduce national deficits. Merz added that Ukraine likely won't become an EU member before the end of the current budget cycle in 2034.

Although Ukraine has made EU accession a national goal and Brussels has hinted at possible membership by 2030, several countries — including Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland — oppose the move. They cite Ukraine’s preparedness and the financial strain its membership could place on the bloc.

While Russia once viewed Ukraine’s EU ambitions as a sovereign matter, Moscow has since condemned the EU’s deepening ties with Kiev, accusing the bloc of turning into a militarized extension of NATO.

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