From the Guardian · · 1m 40s
Merz threatens EU budget veto over Ukraine aid
Germany's chancellor signals he will block the EU's seven-year budget unless all member states commit to funding Ukraine, angering leaders in central Europe.
In brief
Germany's chancellor signals he will block the EU's seven-year budget unless all member states commit to funding Ukraine, angering leaders in central Europe. Friedrich Merz has threatened to block the EU's seven-year budget unless there is a deal on financial aid for Ukraine, triggering accusations of blackmail from…
Merz threatens budget veto
Friedrich Merz, Germany's chancellor, has signalled he will block the EU's seven-year budget unless there is a deal on financial aid for Ukraine.
Slovakia and Czechia reject the demand
Slovakia's prime minister Robert Fico called Merz's position "typical blackmail". Czech prime minister Andrej Babiš also rejected taking part in future Ukraine funding.
“What the chancellor is doing is typical blackmail, and I will not give in to it.”
Merz's case for collective support
Merz wrote to European Council president António Costa that bilateral assistance to Ukraine is "carried mostly by only a few member states" and all must contribute.
“bilateral assistance to Ukraine is distributed unevenly and carried mostly by only a few member states.”
Ukraine's funding shortfall grows
The EU lent Ukraine ninety billion euros last year. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has since called for seventy billion euros to fill a budget shortfall from Russia's bombardment.
Who is opting out of funding
Hungary, Slovakia and Czechia opted out of the ninety billion euro loan. Bulgaria, following the election of Moscow-friendly prime minister Rumen Radev last April, has now joined them.
Merz seeks to change voting rules
Berlin is seeking to switch decision-making on Ukraine funding from unanimity to qualified-majority vote to prevent one government from blocking EU decisions on the matter.
Budget talks set for late November
European Council president António Costa wants a budget deal by year's end. Ukraine finance will be discussed at a special summit on twenty-six to twenty-seven November.
The one thing
Friedrich Merz has threatened to block the EU's seven-year budget unless there is a deal on financial aid for Ukraine, triggering accusations of blackmail from other European leaders.
