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Ukraine's Accession to EU to Cost Member States Up to $208Bln - Orban

© AFP 2023 / FREDERICK FLORINThe EU flag (R) and flags of other nations are pictured at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France, on December 14, 2022.
The EU flag (R) and flags of other nations are pictured at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France, on December 14, 2022.  - Sputnik International, 1920, 21.12.2023
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MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Ukraine's accession to the European Union would cost the bloc 150 to 190 billion euros ($164 billion to $208 billion), and the member states would receive less money, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Wednesday, citing this as a reason for Hungary's opposition to the allocation of funds from the European budget to Kiev.
"It is certain that if Ukraine were admitted [to the EU], all the support that the countries of central Europe, including Hungary, have received so far, would be for them," Orban said in an interview with the TV2 broadcaster.
Orban added that it is still unknown where to get the money to support Ukraine because member states, including Hungary, will receive less budget money if 50 billion euros are allocated from the EU budget, which Budapest does not agree to.
"There is no precise analysis of how much it [Ukraine's accession] would cost the EU, but, according to unofficial estimates, it would be about 150 to 190 billion euros," the prime minister said.
Orban added that the Hungarian government's goal is to "remove most of the tension during the background conversations" and focus on finding "a solution that satisfies everyone" at a summit in Brussels. The prime minister also said that Hungary offers European counterparts to resolve the issues of support for Ukraine outside the EU budget.
"Not only thunder but also sulfur lightning" is expected at the next EU summit on financial aid to Kiev, Orban said.
Hungary's Prime Minister Victor Orban. - Sputnik International, 1920, 15.12.2023
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Hungary Vetoes 50Bln Euros in EU's Macro-Financial Aid for Ukraine
Last week, Hungary vetoed an increase in the EU budget for 2024-2027, including 50 billion euros of macro-financial aid to Kiev. At the same time, Orban did not vote against launching EU accession talks with Ukraine but warned that Budapest would have "75 more opportunities" to block this process. European Council President Charles Michel then said he hopes the EU leaders would unanimously approve financial aid to Ukraine in early 2024.
An extraordinary EU summit, where the long-term financial aid to Ukraine will be discussed, will take place on February 1, 2024, Michel said Monday.
The EU has been trying to reach an agreement on 20 billion euros in military support for Ukraine and intends to include another 50 billion euros in the EU budget to provide macro-financial assistance to Kiev over the next four years. However, the plans have faced opposition from some member states, mainly from Hungary.
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