Ursula Von der Leyen threatens to silence Hungary as EU eyes nuclear option in major escalation of battle with Viktor Orban
WATCH: Von der Leyen discusses funding for Ukraine
The EU has threatened to silence Hungary in its battle with the nation over funding for Ukraine, with the bloc considering suspending its voting rights.
Hungary has been at loggerheads with the bloc for months, refusing to agree to providing more funding for Ukraine.
Brussels diplomats are said to be considering using Article 7, a clause in the EU treaty that allows it to suspend a member's voting rights.
The EU may be forced to use the penalty if Hungary continues to block a €50 billion lifeline for Ukraine.
The EU has threatened to silence Hungary in its battle with the nation over funding for Ukraine
PA
One EU diplomat told Politico: "If Orbán really blocks again an agreement [on the budget and €50 billion for Ukraine] at the February summit, using Article 7 to strip Hungary of its voting rights could become a real option."
Another diplomat warned that the “nuclear option” is becoming a viable option, adding: “We are again getting into this game of what does he want?
“Why should we worry about saving anyone’s face? We should be a bit more forceful.”
Speaking last week’s at the World Economic Forum in Davos, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen suggested an agreement on funding for Ukraine would be forced through with or without Hungary's support.
She said: "My personal priority is to have an agreement by 27 countries. And if this is not possible, we are prepared for an agreement by 26. But I strongly support and prefer an agreement by 27.
Last month, Von der Leyen was accused of striking a "dirty deal" with Hungary, with MEPs in the European Union gearing up to take the bloc to court over the issue.
This came after the European Commission handed £8.5 billion to Hungary. The funding was initially frozen due to corruption and rule of law concerns with Hungary's government.
But the assembly has accused the commission of giving in to blackmail from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, in order to get his approval to begin membership talks with Ukraine.
The EU is still blocking about £17billion (€20billion) in funds from Hungary. The nation has indicated that it could support the EU's plans to hand more funding to Ukraine if it releases the funds, but MEPs have threatened legal action if any further funds are released without meeting the criteria to do so.
Posting on X, MEP Guy Verhofstadt said: "European Parliament ready to go to Court and abolish Hungarian voting rights…. to stop the Commission doing dirty deals with Orban…
"When will [Ursula Von der Leyen] be Guardian of the Treaties, not friends with autocrats?"
The European Parliament last week voted to instruct its legal department to prepare the groundwork for a possible challenge at the European Court of Justice.
READ MORE:
The EU is still blocking about £17billion (€20billion) in funds from Hungary
PA
MEPs are trying to establish whether the commission took all necessary measures to "protect the EU's financial interests" in its engagement with Orban.
The European Commission has said it released the funds because Hungary had shown sufficient effort to address concerns over the rule of law, with Von der Leyen saying it had no option but to approve the funds.
She said: "These are the rules we have all agreed to. We will follow them. This is what makes the rule of law stand out from arbitrary power."