Ukraine, EU leaders protest with Orban

Whether the conclusions are at 25 or 26, it doesn’t change much: technically, if I’m not at 27 they are not conclusions of the European Council and do not have the same legal value. The summit is now proceeding with its agenda: breakfast with the UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres, has just ended, and the leaders are now discussing the situation in the Middle East. The President of the European Council and the other Heads of State and Government, according to what we learn in Brussels, have made it clear to the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban that his behavior is considered unacceptable.

There is little, however, that the other leaders can do, apart from protest: without the green light from Hungary (and Slovakia), it is impossible to change the regulation on the 2021-27 MFF, which is essential to make the 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine agreed last December and which should take place through strengthened cooperation. The loan discussion it will not be reopened at this summit. As a diplomatic source explained, Ukraine still has some time, thanks to an agreement with the IMF, before it runs out of funds. Hungary goes to general elections on April 12th.