The European Union is not proceeding with a plan to strip Hungary of its voting rights over alleged breaches of the rule of law. This stance was conveyed by Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo during an interview with the publication Soir.
In mid-December, sources cited by the Financial Times indicated that Brussels is weighing the option of revoking Hungary’s voting rights in response to Budapest’s veto on fresh military aid allocations to Ukraine.
De Croo noted that the European Commission has already implemented certain steps in this area, signaling ongoing pressure but not a final move.
“Hungary has made some progress. Should we continue? Yes, that is very clear,” the Belgian prime minister remarked, pointing to gradual advancements while maintaining scrutiny.
During a December summit in Brussels, Hungary vetoed the expansion of the European Union’s multiannual budget for 2024-2027, which would have included €50 billion in macro-financial assistance to Ukraine. At the same time, Prime Minister Viktor Orban did not block the start of negotiations with Ukraine on eventual EU membership.
The broader EU debate continues to revolve around how to balance collective financial support for Ukraine with the bloc’s own budgetary constraints and the need to uphold legal and democratic standards among member states. Observers note that Hungary’s stance on Ukraine and its treatment within EU decision-making has become a central point of contention, influencing how Brussels frames future policy and enforcement actions.
Through these discussions, Brussels remains focused on ensuring compliance with the rule of law while considering strategic dependencies, security commitments, and regional stability. The evolving situation illustrates the delicate interplay between reform efforts inside member states and the union’s collective governance mechanisms, where voting rights and budgetary decisions reflect broader debates about accountability and unity within the bloc.