Merz: I won’t accept individual EU countries shirking their responsibility to fund Ukraine. This is our shared task
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he would not accept individual EU countries shirking their responsibility to fund Ukraine. He stressed that support for Kyiv should be addressed in negotiations on the next EU budget.
Merz made the remarks at a joint press conference with Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar on Tuesday, November 10, Censor.NET reports.
Response to Fico
Merz responded to criticism from Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who called the chancellor’s reported threat "blackmail". Merz had reportedly threatened to block the EU’s next seven-year budget unless all member states committed to providing financial support to Ukraine in 2027 and beyond.
"This (financial support for Ukraine. — Ed.) is a shared European task. It is a responsibility of the European Union as a whole, not a matter for individual member states. That is how we have always understood it, and that is how we have shaped our policy toward Ukraine in recent years. So the question of how we will support Ukraine in the coming years, including financially if necessary, must of course be addressed in these budget negotiations," Merz said.
Differing views within the EU
Merz recalled that at the end of last year, 24 of the 27 member states had expressed willingness to provide Ukraine with €90 billion in financial support. He said continuing down that path was not the best option.
"We must fully reflect our policy toward Ukraine in the EU budget. I know there are differing views on this," he said.
The chancellor added that at least four member states saw the issue differently.
Hungary and budget contributions
Merz said he and Magyar had spoken frankly about the domestic political considerations for Hungary, which he said he respected.
"But I, in turn, asked for understanding that the largest contributor to the EU budget, which also makes by far the largest contribution in areas including support for Ukraine, considers it important that we resolve this fundamental issue together."
Germany is the largest contributor to the EU budget, while Hungary receives more from it than it pays in. Merz said the issue would be put on the agenda in the coming days or weeks.
Background
- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz previously warned that Berlin would block the EU’s next budget for 2028–2034 unless all member states committed to providing financial support to Ukraine in 2027 and beyond.
