The leaders of Slovakia, Czechia, Hungary and Bulgaria have rejected German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s request to condition the adoption of the European Union’s future budget with new financial assistance to Ukraine. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has described the move as rescindation and has warned of the use of veto.
By EuronewsFico rejected Merzi’s request during a meeting with Czech counterpart, Andrej Babush, in Bratislava.
What the federal Chancellor is doing is a classic example of blackmail and I reject it. We are a sovereign country. We are the Slovak Republic. We have our views, Fico said.
He stressed that Slovakia has the same veto right as Germany.
Meanwhile, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babık said the EU’s proposed budget already envisions 100 billion euros for Ukraine. However, these funds will not be available until 2028, while Kiev faces a lack of 70 billion euros next year.
Merz, through a letter to the president of the European Council, Antónnio Costa, has stated that the new aid to Ukraine is essential precondition for the adoption of the future EU budget.
Brussels has promised to cover about 45 billion euros from Ukraine’s financial shortages, while joint borrowing is being considered the main option.
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar also rejected the EU budget link with help for Ukraine, stressing that Hungary cannot take over new debts due to its high budget deficit.
We will find a solution to the EU budget. I’m sure of that, Magyar said after the Berlin meeting with Merz.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev also sought his country’s exclusion from future loans to Ukraine, stressing that Bulgaria will continue supporting through other forms, including energy supplies.
Slovakia, Chechia, Hungary and Bulgaria are part of the Cohesion Ministers, which are aimed at protecting cohesion and agriculture funds in the EU’s future budget.
On the other hand, Merz insisted that the burden of support for Ukraine should be more justly divided among member states.
Politics towards Ukraine should be fully included in the European Union budget, the German Chancellor said.
Source Layer: RTKLive
