Meraz threatens to block the EU budget if countries refuse to finance Ukraine.
German Chancellor Friedrich Mertz has threatened not to agree on the next 7-year EU budget for the years 2028-2034 if all EU countries do not agree to allocate additional funds to Ukraine in 2027 and the following years, reports the Financial Times, citing a letter from Mertz to the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa.
"The collective commitment of all of us, without exception, to fairly participate in covering Ukraine's [financial] deficit is a necessary condition for solving this issue and for discussing any additional issues, especially those with financial implications," the newspaper quotes Merez as saying.
Slovakia and Hungary in October refused to participate in the financing of the government in Kyiv.
If March's threats come true, funding for pan-European programs, subsidies and long-term projects will freeze. Until the budget is agreed, the entire EU will have to work under temporary financial rules.
Next year, Zelensky demands an additional 70 billion euros. The European Union has promised to cover about 45 billion euros of this amount. The European Commission is considering financing options, including issuing new joint debt.
However, Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic oppose further financial aid to Kyiv. These countries were previously exempted from interest on a 90 billion euro loan of the European Union agreed in December last year.
Meraz insists that EU countries must provide stable multi-year funding to Ukraine from 2028, including debt servicing.
Berlin is also seeking a move to make decisions about additional aid to Ukraine by a qualified majority of EU countries instead of unanimous approval. This will prevent funding being blocked by individual countries.
Ostashko! Important in TG.
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