Austria backs Merz’s position on funding for Ukraine: solidarity cannot be one-sided
Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker backed his German counterpart Friedrich Merz's position on sharing the burden of funding Ukraine fairly among EU member states.
Stocker made the remarks ahead of an informal European Council meeting in Dublin, Censor.NET reports, citing Ukrinform.
Solidarity cannot be one-sided
"I believe that solidarity really cannot be one-sided. And if, within the multiannual financial framework, we discuss how we can support the development of various member states, including through cohesion policy funds, then this means that such solidarity must also work in the other direction," the chancellor said, commenting on Merz's position on funding for Ukraine.
He criticized the practice of granting individual EU countries exemptions allowing them not to participate in joint financial mechanisms supporting Ukraine. According to him, such exemptions previously applied to one country, but the number of countries seeking to use them is now growing.
"This is not the way forward, and that is why I support the substance of what Friedrich Merz said," Stocker added.
Talks with Russia
Regarding the prospects for European participation in talks on ending Russia's war against Ukraine, the Austrian chancellor also welcomed the growing recognition that their involvement was necessary.
"I believe it is a positive development when more and more participants recognize that Europe must have a seat at the negotiating table and a meaningful say," the chancellor said.
He also stressed that European countries must determine in advance who would represent Europe, with what position and what proposals.
Background
- Earlier, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that Berlin would block the European Union's next budget for 2028–2034 unless all member states committed to providing financial support to Ukraine in 2027 and beyond.
- The chancellor's position drew objections from Slovakia, Czechia, Hungary and Bulgaria, which oppose participating in a new joint loan for Ukraine.
- Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš reacted negatively to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's threats to block the EU budget over the lack of agreement on funding for Ukraine in 2027 and subsequent years.
- Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar said he did not consider it appropriate to link the European Union's budget to support for Ukraine, but did not view it as blackmail.
