“If we don’t know (what the consequences will be) then we shouldn’t start talks… So I will represent the view that the EU should first sign a strategic partnership agreement with Ukraine”
The European Union should sign one first “strategic partnership agreement” with Ukraine, which will last at least five years, instead of starting accession talks with that country, the Hungarian Prime Minister said today on the state radio station Viktor Orbanpointing to a way to possibly reach a compromise before a crucial EU summit.
The 27 heads of EU member states are set to decide in mid-December whether to accept the European Commission’s recommendation to invite Kiev to start accession talks once it meets final conditions, even as it battles to repel Russia’s invasion.
Any such decision would require the unanimity of the 27 members of the coalition and Hungary is thought to be the main obstacle. The Hungarian Prime Minister has repeatedly stated that Hungary will not support the European Commission’s proposal in its current form.
Orban reiterated today that several issues need to be clarified before accession talks with Ukraine can begin, saying that at the moment it is impossible to assess what consequences Ukraine’s accession will have on the European coalition.
“If we don’t know (what the consequences will be) then we should not start talks… So I will represent the view that the EU should first sign a strategic partnership agreement with Ukraine,” Orban said in an interview on state radio.
“This deal could last for 5 to 10 years, let’s bring them closer, as the gap is now too wide,” he declared. “Let’s give time to work together and, when we see how we can work together, then let’s bring up the question of integration,” said Orbán.
Orban’s proposal came a day after EU officials said yesterday that Hungary was close to unlocking billions of euros in EU funds that Brussels had suspended over concerns that Budapest had damaged democratic constitutional control in the country.
The Hungarian Prime Minister asked to have a ceasefire in Ukraine and stated that if the EU wants to give more money to Ukraine, then it should create a separate financial fund outside the EU budget based on an intergovernmental agreement.
“Everyone should contribute the money they want and we should send the money (from this fund) to Ukraine,” he said, adding that funding Ukraine from the EU budget to fight the war has brought the EU budget at its limits.
Source :Skai
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