EU summit: Leaders reach 'broad agreement' on budget
Illustrative photo (Getty Images)
Leaders of the European Union at the summit in Brussels have commenced discussions on Ukraine and Moldova's EU accession, as well as the candidate status for Georgia. They have also reached "broad agreement" on the budget, reports The Guardian.
Sources state that adjustments to the budget are now handed over to senior advisors ("sherpas"), who will carefully study the details to reach an agreement.
Meanwhile, the question of whether Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban will support the element of the EU Multiannual Financial Framework, allocating 50 billion euros to Ukraine, will not be resolved until a decision on expansion is made. Both issues are closely linked.
The article notes that "sherpas" will explore the possibility of further budget reductions for the EU.
50 billion euros for Ukraine
Earlier, the European Commission proposed allocating 50 billion euros to Ukraine by 2027. For this decision to be adopted, it must be approved by all EU leaders. The issue will be discussed at the summit scheduled for December 14-15.
It is worth noting that Hungary threatens to veto such an initiative and puts forward its conditions. Just yesterday, the political director of the Prime Minister of Hungary, Balazs Orban, stated that his country would approve the EU budget review only if the bloc unfreezes 30 billion euros designated for Budapest.
Yesterday, on December 13, the European Commission officially unblocked over 10 billion euros for Hungary.
Additionally, according to the Commissioner for Budget Johannes Hahn, EU leaders are likely to approve the budget review until 2027, which includes 50 billion euros for Ukraine.
EU summit and Ukraine's accession talks
Today, on December 14, the European Council summit began in Brussels. One of the main issues is expected to be negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the European Union.
Earlier, the European Commission recommended starting such negotiations in its report, but Budapest opposes this decision.
As Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban stated, his country is not against Ukraine joining the EU, but the question of opening negotiations should be postponed for six months.
