EU bypasses Hungary's veto on Ukraine military fund
Voluntary contributions and bypassing Hungary in decision-making is the latest strategy from Brussels for a military support fund for Ukraine, according to insights from a Polish Radio journalist. Budapest has been blocking the EU from increasing this fund for the past year.
The EU has devised a "concrete proposal" to circumvent Hungary's veto on raising the European Peace Facility. Currently, the EU uses this fund to support Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. EU countries receive reimbursements from this fund for arms and ammunition supplied to Kyiv.
Each time the fund requires replenishment, unanimous agreement among all countries is necessary.
The findings from the Polish Radio journalist indicate a potential change to the unanimity rule. This would circumvent Hungary's veto—Hungary would not have to contribute to the fund and could not block contributions from other countries. Hungary's contribution was minimal anyway—just over one percent—so the financial loss for the EU would be insignificant. Analyses and efforts to transform this new idea into law are currently underway.
EU countries are fed up with Hungary's stance
In the latter half of September, the Polish Press Agency reported that the European Union's legal services are preparing a solution to bypass Hungary's veto on reimbursements for arms for Ukraine.
- Member states that supply weapons and ammunition to Ukraine are growing weary of Hungary's persistent veto – an EU source told PAP. This signals a breakthrough, as up until now, capitals have aimed to maintain unity amongst member countries.
However, capitals are now prepared to bypass Budapest's opposition, particularly since, in the case of the EPF, it is they—not Ukraine—that are impacted. Therefore, at the end of August, the EU's chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, publicly announced his efforts to find a solution to bypass Hungary's veto.
