Bloomberg: Meloni Urges Orban to Alter Stance on Ukraine
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is working to persuade Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to relinquish his veto on EU aid for Ukraine and to improve his relationship with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In exchange, she would pave the way for Orban's Fidesz party to join the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, which she leads, Bloomberg reports.
Meloni is also trying to convince Orban to change his position on Ukraine's EU accession. According to sources familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity, these would be the prerequisites for joining the ECR. Discussions on the issue have taken place at various levels, but no decision has been made yet, the article stated.
Fidesz left the European People's Party in 2021, and since then, it hasn't been a member of any faction. Meloni's party, Brothers of Italy, and Poland's Law and Justice (PiS) party are members of the ECR.
Upon Bloomberg's inquiry, Orban's press chief did not respond, and Meloni's office declined to give a statement.
In the Hungarian Parliament, Orban spoke on how Ukraine's EU accession would have unforeseeable consequences and would not serve the interests of either the EU or Hungary. "There has never been a case where the EU started negotiations with a country at war and whose borders are uncertain, including whether or not occupied territories would be part of the EU," Orban listed among his objections, including the lack of clarity on the size of Ukraine's territory and how this would affect the calculation of agricultural subsidies in the case of accession. He also mentioned the Ukrainian government's practical elimination of freedom of expression and press freedom, which, according to the government, is acceptable in wartime, but "we cannot make ourselves a laughingstock by claiming that the Ukrainian press is free."
Hungary vetoed the approval of fifty billion euros in aid meant for Ukraine last year. However, some reports suggest the Hungarian government indicated they could approve the aid under certain conditions. Politico understands that if the sum were disbursed over four years rather than in one installment, Hungary could support the proposal. The outlet also reported that the next EU summit is scheduled for February 1, which increases the likelihood of EU leaders putting pressure on Orban to approve the aid.
The Hungarian government also seeks to secure an additional two years to meet the targets set out in the recovery program without losing the funds.
Fidesz left the European People's Party in 2021, and since then, it hasn't been a member of any faction. Meloni's party, Brothers of Italy, and Poland's Law and Justice (PiS) party are members of the ECR.
Upon Bloomberg's inquiry, Orban's press chief did not respond, and Meloni's office declined to give a statement.
In the Hungarian Parliament, Orban spoke on how Ukraine's EU accession would have unforeseeable consequences and would not serve the interests of either the EU or Hungary. "There has never been a case where the EU started negotiations with a country at war and whose borders are uncertain, including whether or not occupied territories would be part of the EU," Orban listed among his objections, including the lack of clarity on the size of Ukraine's territory and how this would affect the calculation of agricultural subsidies in the case of accession. He also mentioned the Ukrainian government's practical elimination of freedom of expression and press freedom, which, according to the government, is acceptable in wartime, but "we cannot make ourselves a laughingstock by claiming that the Ukrainian press is free."
Hungary vetoed the approval of fifty billion euros in aid meant for Ukraine last year. However, some reports suggest the Hungarian government indicated they could approve the aid under certain conditions. Politico understands that if the sum were disbursed over four years rather than in one installment, Hungary could support the proposal. The outlet also reported that the next EU summit is scheduled for February 1, which increases the likelihood of EU leaders putting pressure on Orban to approve the aid.
The Hungarian government also seeks to secure an additional two years to meet the targets set out in the recovery program without losing the funds.
