"Hungary betrays its own struggle for freedom" - a tough message from Poland

EU foreign ministers will urge Hungary to rethink its decision to block the European Union's next package of sanctions against Russia, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said in Brussels on Monday.

I do not believe it is right for Hungary to betray its own struggle for freedom and European sovereignty,

Wadephul said.

"That is why we will once again present our arguments to the Hungarians in Budapest, but also here in Brussels, of course, and ask them to reconsider their position," he added.

Polish Foreign Minister had a different approach.

I would have expected a much bigger feeling of solidarity for Ukraine from Hungary, becuse Hungary was attacked by the Red Army in the past,

Radosław Sikorski said, referring to Moscow crushing Hungary's revolution in 1956.

The statements suggest that there is growing pressure within the European Union on Budapest to abandon its veto on sanctions. Member states have clearly launched a diplomatic offensive to persuade the Hungarian government.

EU countries will likely not reach an agreement on the proposed new (the 20th) package of sanctions against Russia on Monday, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said.

Continued resistance from Hungary has made it clear that consensus on the proposed measures will not be reached at a meeting of EU ministers of foreign affairs on Monday, Kallas told reporters before the meeting. 

Over the weekend, Péter Szijjártó, Hungary's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, announced that the Hungarian government would not vote in favour of any punitive measures in response to Ukraine's decision to block the Friendship oil pipeline.

Source: Reuters

We should point out that the Hungarian government's threat to veto the package could encounter legal obstacles. The €90 billion loan package has already been approved as part of enhanced cooperation involving 24 member states, but not Hungary, Slovakia or the Czech Republic. Although Hungary's consent was required to cover the financing from the EU's budgetary leeway, the government had already given its approval.

Nevertheless, not all details have been finalised among the 24 member states. Certain budgetary matters related to joint debt issuance require the votes of all 27 member states.

According to diplomatic sources, the Hungarian EU ambassador had previously blocked this key step in the process. However, the EU has an emergency procedure that allows it to bypass decisions that would normally require unanimity. This has mainly been used in the case of sanctions against Russia.

The loan package was approved by the European Parliament on 21 January, and the Council of the European Union reached a political agreement on the legal framework on 5 February. According to the European Commission's plans, the first payments could begin at the start of the second quarter.

Cover image (for illustration purposes only): Getty Images