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EU leaders unlock €50bn support package for Ukraine (www.bbc.co.uk)

submitted 10 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 23 points 10 months ago (3 children)

I'm curious how they managed to persuade him. I hope it's not by releasing of blocked funds so he can keep lining his pockets.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I believe it was the threat of sanctions if he didn't agree.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 10 months ago

I guess you're referring to this

I wouldn't be surprised if that confidential document outlining the sanctions was "accidentally" "leaked" on purpose to increase the pressure on him.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 10 months ago (2 children)

News outlet are being extremely vague about Orban's motives, but it's clear that no funds have been unfrozen. By the looks of it, it seems Hungary received no grants at all and just changed its mind out of the goodness of her heart, which is weird.

From DW

"From what we are hearing from our sources, they made it very clear to Viktor Orban that he is standing all alone in the EU, blocking this essential aid for Ukraine," she said, adding that following the message it became clear Orban would finally say yes and so the EU leaders sat together to finalize the deal.

This makes me wonder if anything went on behind those closed doors. We know that yesterday Orban met with Meloni, who according to euronews

[Meloni] has fashioned herself as the most dexterous mediator between Budapest and Brussels. Meloni and Orbán held bilateral talks on Wednesday evening in anticipation of the high-stakes meeting.

All that's left to hope is that Meloni and other EU leaders succesfully managed to scare off Hungary and that no backroom deals went on.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 10 months ago (1 children)

There have been numerous reports about EU officials/MPs considering stripping Hungary of its voting rights preceding this. So most likely Orban as just beenade aware that there's a limit to which degree he can block stuff while still being allowed to play ball.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 10 months ago

Possible. I'd love it if they actually went through with the article 7 threats, but until then using said threat to have Orban sit down is the next best thing.

[–] gmtom 4 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Hungary originally said they would undo the veto if they agreed to review the funding every year. Which EU accepted in the new draft.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Correct, but that review process won't have any votes on it, meaning it also won't be possible for Hungary (or anyone else) to veto it. Doesn't seem like that great of an accomplishment on Hungary's side.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I think it’s mostly for show. All the posturing is for his domestic voters, since most of his political message is being anti EU. If he can make a big stink in Brussels and carry off a token victory that’s a decent propaganda tool. I’m fairly sure he isn’t actually so stupid as to risk losing the EU billions going to him and his friends.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago

I think it's likely this. What probably also happened, was some quiet discussions in offices along the lines of "if you throw your toys out of the pram, it will be the last time, and you may not get the toys back"

[–] [email protected] 6 points 10 months ago

They threatened taking away Hungary’s voting power in EU altogether . Apparently there is a process to do that.