I don’t think it’s right to link EU budget to Ukraine funding, but this isn’t blackmail – Magyar
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar said he did not think linking the European Union budget to support for Ukraine was the right approach, but he did not see it as blackmail.
Magyar made the remarks at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Tuesday, November 10, Censor.NET reports, citing 24.hu.
What Magyar said
Responding to Merz’s proposal, Magyar said:
"Let me say diplomatically, politely, but firmly that I don’t think it’s right to tie Europe’s budget, which is ultimately a matter for the European Union, to another issue in any way."
Magyar added that he did not consider it blackmail but believed the approach sent the wrong signal outside the bloc.
Hungary’s arguments
Magyar recalled that Hungary had devoted substantial resources to protecting the EU’s external borders since the start of the migration crisis.
He said Hungary had received no compensation and had only faced penalties that had already cost the country €1 billion. He also stressed Hungary’s role in NATO’s presence in the Western Balkans and in the defense of the Baltic states.
Magyar rejected the EU budget in its current form, saying it would make Hungary one of the largest net contributors per capita. He said that was unacceptable for a country that receives cohesion funding.
The goal, he said, was for all 27 member states to agree on the budget, and that "will not be an easy task."
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.
