BRUSSELS Oct. 11 () –
The European Union is exploring options to make the fund that finances military support to Ukraine voluntary, and in this way, overcome the blockade that Hungary has posed for a year and a half, which prevents the reimbursement to the Member States of 6.6 billion euros in assistance to the Ukrainian Army.
Budapest’s position, against the supply of weapons to kyiv, keeps European funds frozen for the bilateral aid that each Member State delivers to Ukraine through the European Peace Mechanism. In this sense, the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, has presented different scenarios to save the Hungarian blockade and make financial contributions to the fund voluntary.
“This can unblock the situation because you would not need all (the Member States) for the disbursement, which is how the European Peace Mechanism works,” explains a senior EU official who recognizes that Hungary’s veto has been prolonged for too long. and damages the EU’s will to maintain support for kyiv in the face of the Russian invasion.
Diplomatic sources consulted by Europa Press emphasize that the option does not have to be to create a new fund but rather to change the way in which the current instrument works so that it is nourished by voluntary contributions from the Member States. Currently, the countries of the bloc contribute financially to this plan according to their economic weight in the EU.
In fact, the operating regulations of the European Peace Mechanism provide for the management of a “voluntary financial contribution made by a Member State or a third party” that would be dedicated to “a specific project in support of the operation or assistance measure.” Through this method, Norway has participated in European fund activities in the past.
The idea of adopting this type of operation was put on the table months ago by Germany, although until now there were legal doubts about how to proceed, sources have explained. Furthermore, to approve these voluntary contributions, the unanimity of the EU at the level of ambassadors, including the Hungarian representative, would be required.
In total, the EU has raised the instrument with which it finances its Defense policy to 3.5 billion euros and uses it from 2022 to supply weapons to Ukraine in the context of the Russian invasion. For months, Borrell has criticized Hungary’s “regrettable” blockade, which hinders European financing for the delivery of weapons, and has promised kyiv to find a solution to end the paralysis on this front.
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