Orban threatened EU with budget veto if Hungary fails to repay funds

Hungary must receive all blocked funds from the European Union (EU) budget and funds, otherwise the country will use its veto right and block the draft long-term budget of the community for the next seven years. This was warned by the country's Prime Minister Viktor Orban on December 6.

The politician recalled that €12.5 billion is currently unfrozen in Hungary's accounts in Brussels, which could be attracted to the Hungarian economy.

"These €12.5 billion fulfill the requirements of the Hungarian economy until the end of 2026. We are entitled to more money besides these, this will already be a problem after 2026. In my opinion, we will certainly get them as well. Because negotiations have begun on a seven-year budget after 2027," the prime minister said on Kossuth radio.

Orban added that unanimity of all EU members is necessary for the adoption of the budget. Thus, in case the money does not reach Budapest's accounts, he has the right to use the right of veto.

"I can say for sure that the money we did not get in 2025-2026, we will have to get in 2027-2028, otherwise there will be no budget, I will not approve it," he warned.

Earlier, on December 4, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said that Hungary had asked the United States to make an exception to sanctions against Gazprombank for payments for gas from Russia. According to him, he discussed the topic with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on the margins of a meeting of NATO diplomatic chiefs in Brussels. The diplomat noted that such an exception can not be called unusual, because several Russian banks have it to pay for uranium supplies to the United States.

Before that, on November 15, Orban said that the economic path of Europe is comparable to suicide. So, the result of the conflict in Ukraine, according to the politician, are the problems with the Hungarian economy. In his opinion, the introduction of sanctions against Russia, imposed by Brussels, was wrong. Orban noted that the imposed restrictions led to an increase in energy prices, which caused inflation in the country. At the same time, European countries do not have enough money to finance the conflict.

On November 7, the Hungarian prime minister also said that after Donald Trump won the US presidential election, the EU had doubts about continuing to finance Ukraine.