Listen to this article Hungary’s Blockade: Confirmation Of Payment Halt From EU Fund For Military Support To Ukraine
Introduction
The Hungarian government has officially confirmed its decision to withhold approval for the disbursement of the next €500 million tranche from the European Peace Facility. This facility serves as a crucial financial source for providing military equipment to Ukraine. The information was reported by Reuters, citing the press service of the Hungarian government as reported by European Pravda.
Disagreement over Allocation
According to the Hungarian government, their disagreement arises from the exclusive allocation of the European Peace Facility to Ukraine. They believe that this approach falls short of allocating sufficient funds to promote the broader interests of the European Union in other regions. Budapest emphasizes the need for clarification on these matters and advocates for the EU instrument to also support the Balkans and North Africa.
Scheduled Disbursement and Facility Overview
The media had previously reported that the disbursement of the €500 million tranche was scheduled for May 22. The European Peace Facility operates as an off-budget funding mechanism with an extensive total budget of nearly €8 billion. It has provided support to the Ukrainian Armed Forces through seven successive support packages. Additionally, the facility has extended assistance to several other countries, including Mozambique, Georgia, Moldova, Mali, Somalia, Niger, Jordan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lebanon, and Mauritania.
Recent Approvals and Support
In early February, the European Council approved the seventh tranche of military assistance to Ukraine from the fund. The council also allocated funds for the EU training mission aimed at supporting the Ukrainian military. Moreover, the EU Council has recently made the decision to allocate €1 billion from the European Peace Facility to supply artillery ammunition, as part of its ongoing initiative to bolster support for Ukraine.
By taking this stance, Hungary has confirmed its position regarding the disbursement of funds from the European Peace Facility, expressing concerns about the exclusive focus on Ukraine and advocating for a more comprehensive allocation that promotes the broader interests of the European Union.
Also Read This :
Comments 1