Officials in Brussels have reportedly drawn up a secret plan to sabotage Hungary’s economy if Viktor Orbán decides this week to again block a €50bn support package for Ukraine.
The plan, reported by the Financial Times, reflects the fury mounting across European capitals at what one diplomat called the “policy of blackmail” being pursued by the Hungarian prime minister, who leads the bloc’s most pro-Russia state.
The FT said the strategy involved targeting Hungary’s economy, weakening its currency and reducing investor confidence.
Orbán blocked the €50bn in Ukraine funds in December, forcing an emergency leaders meeting to be scheduled on Thursday to revisit the matter.
Is there no process to kick Hungary out?
Even if the EU could, how would this be strategic in the long term?
@aew360 @world Nope. All that can be done is to withhold money from them.
No, they can do more. The nuclear option is to use Article 7 to suspend Hungary’s voting rights at the European Council if they deem that Hungary is acting against the EU’s values.
Stopping the flow of EU funds is part of the escalation route towards that but they won’t do it unless they’ve exhausted other options - it’s a tricky balancing act to cajole Orban into behaving like a European, and once they use Article 7 there will be no more escalation threats available.
They can also block Hungary from exercising its voting rights, essentially suspending their EU membership. But not kicking them out altogether