An EU delegation will discuss a €90 billion package for Ukraine with Hungary in Budapest on April 17
A European Union delegation is heading to Budapest on Friday, April 17, for crucial talks with Hungary’s prime minister-designate, Péter Magyar.
The main topics of the meeting will be the release of financial aid for Ukraine and the return of frozen European funds to Hungary.
According to an official statement from the European Commission, the parties plan to discuss in detail a €90 billion loan for Ukraine.
This financial support package had long been blocked due to a veto by the previous Hungarian government led by Viktor Orbán.
Péter Magyar, who won a landslide victory in the recent parliamentary elections, has already stated his readiness to change the approach to cooperation with Brussels.
Hungary’s new leader noted that Budapest will not stand in the way of allocating funds to Kyiv, although Hungary itself may exercise its right not to participate directly in the loan mechanism.
“Time is running out on a number of issues, whether we’re talking about the Ukrainian loan or EU funds, so it’s in the interest of both sides to make progress as quickly as possible,” emphasized European Commission spokesperson Paula Pigno.
She confirmed that the EU aims to begin working with the new government without any delay.
Alongside the issue of aid to Ukraine, the delegation will consider the conditions for unfreezing approximately €17 billion earmarked for Hungary’s economic development.
These funds were blocked by Brussels due to systematic violations of the rule of law and corruption scandals during the previous administration.
Péter Magyar is the first cousin of Hungary’s former president and the grandson of a judge
Von der Leyen and Magyar discussed the release of EU funds for Hungary
