BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Emmanuel Macron called on Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Friday to show responsibility and not take discussions on the accession of the European Union to Ukraine hostage.
“The coming months will be decisive for Hungary and for us,” declared the French head of state during a press conference at the European Council in Brussels. “I expect Viktor Orban in the coming months to behave like a European and not take political conditions hostage.” Hungary will take over the presidency of the EU from July 1, 2024, for six months.
Refusing to “declaim victory” after the political agreement concluded Thursday evening by the member countries without Hungary on the opening of accession negotiations with Kyiv, Emmanuel Macron stressed that Hungary and its Prime Minister had been “respected” during the summit of Twenty-Seven.
“This respect implies responsibilities. So, I expect from Viktor Orban in the coming months precisely, being respected, that he behaves like a European and does not take political conditions hostage.”
If the membership criteria are not met, “there will be no opening of negotiations, we have always been clear, it is a process based on merit”, declared Emmanuel Macron. “On the other hand – and I asked him the question, he (Orban) told me that he would not block – if the seven rules are met, we will have to be able to open discussions.”
“We are very far from an effective enlargement to Ukraine. In any case, any enlargement whatsoever will require an in-depth reform of our rules”, however noted the President of the Republic.
On the question of the European budget and multi-year aid of 50 billion euros to Ukraine, blocked by Viktor Orban, “I think that in February, or at the start of the year, it will undoubtedly be simpler” to find an agreement, said Emmanuel Macron.
(Jean-Stéphane Brosse, edited by Nicolas Delame)
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