The Prime Minister defended on Friday that the European Union (EU) support for Ukraine is “not up for discussion”, only guaranteed until January, because there was consensus on the 26th and Hungary is isolated.
“Financing until January is assured. Now we will work on the instrument that was proposed to be created to ensure predictability and stability.”said António Costa during a press conference at the end of a two-day European Council meeting in Brussels.
Because of Hungary, the European Council has not been able to reach unanimity on the approximately EUR 50 billion for Ukraine, discussed in the context of the revision of the EU’s multiannual financial framework.
‘It was very clear that if an agreement is reached at the age of 26, support is not at stake […]Ukraine will not stop being supported,” the Prime Minister emphasized.
António Costa argued that at least Budapest did not block the “most important decision”, namely opening negotiations with Ukraine on EU membership.
The financial reserve for Ukraine will grow in 2024, with or without Hungary
António Costa stated that the 50 billion euros financial reserve to support Ukraine will be given the green light in early 2024, with or without Hungary, given the Hungarian blockade, pending “negotiation attempts”.
‘If Hungary remains in the same position [de veto húngaro à reserva financeira]then the 26 continues on the board [do orçamento] of the European Union, preferably on the basis of a technical-legal solution allowing macro-financial assistance to Ukraine on a multilateral or bilateral basis, and if this is not available,” the head of government said.
António Costa pointed out that “what happened was an agreement between the 26 [líderes europeus, sem a Hungria] and then it stabilized.”
“So those traditional divisions between ‘frugal’ and not ‘frugal’, between what is fresh money and what is not fresh money, between what are redistributions of other budget funds, all this has been resolved and stabilized,” the chief minister said.
“If there were only 26 of us, everything would be approved, [mas] we are not 26 and we have to respect each other and that is why what we did was allowed […] It will take four to five weeks before negotiation efforts can take place and the necessary conditions can be created so that Hungary cannot prevent this approval,” he said.
At the first meeting of the European Council, which concluded this morning, it was not possible to reach agreement on the revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2024-2027, which provides for a financial reserve of EUR 50 billion to support the reconstruction and modernization of Ukraine.
It is therefore planned that EU leaders will meet again at an extraordinary summit, which will take place in January or February next year.
In this discussion, which requires unanimity among European leaders, the same amount of EUR 17 billion in subsidies for the modernization and reconstruction of Ukraine, from a financial reserve of EUR 50 billion (which still counts with EUR 33 billion in loans), as the community administrator had proposed.
Last night there was a Portuguese proposal on the table to proceed with just 26 Member States (with the burden shared among them), but there was no legal basis to support this.
The main problems in the MFF negotiations are related to the Hungarian position, which challenges the suspension of community funds to Budapest due to lack of respect for the rule of law and the payment of interest from the Recovery Fund, the amounts of which have also been suspended.
The EU will then discuss the revision of the budget for the period 2024-2027, which will provide for a financial reserve for the next four years, with loans and grants for the reconstruction of post-war Ukraine, an amount that will be mobilized depending on the situation on site.
Costa says he is “honored and grateful” for Marcelo’s “beautiful” statements
The Prime Minister, António Costa, said he was “honored and grateful” by the “beautiful” statements of the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, that he was his favorite in the PS and that he could chair the European Council. .
“I am not going to comment on statements that I do not know, but which are apparently nice and for that I am honored and grateful,” said António Costa.
Speaking to Portuguese journalists in Brussels at the end of a two-day European Council, the head of government emphasized: “I am not going to comment because, moreover, I have not heard the statements, but I am very honored. “
The President of the Republic declared on Thursday that António Costa was his favorite to lead the PS, held him responsible for his resignation and believed that he has the conditions to preside over the European Council and that he would also be a good presidential candidate .
Asked if he had a favorite in the PS leadership campaign, the head of state replied: “Ah, I do. It was Dr. António Costa. He was my favorite. He was what I would have preferred.”
When asked if he regrets the decision he made, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa held the Prime Minister responsible for his dismissal: ‘No, the one who made the decision was Dr. António Costa. He was the one who decided to leave, it wasn’t me. He decided to leave because of the circumstances we know.”
“He told me he was leaving. It was not I who said to him: look, go away. No, he said to me: in view of this, I cannot conscientiously stay,” continued Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. “The decision I made afterwards was a consequence and not a cause of his decision,” he emphasized.
Then, faced with Francisco Assis’s opinion that António Costa would be very useful as President of the European Council, the President of the Republic agreed: “Ah, but I have no doubts whatsoever. The Prime Minister has exceptional European prestige, and when he speaks to members of the various European political groups it is clear that he meets the conditions to become president himself.” of the European Council so that he understands that he has the internal conditions in place.”
Regarding the possible candidacy of António Costa for the presidency of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa replied: “You should ask Doctor António Costa, he is the one who must choose the future and who has several possible futures. Not me, I have to manage this. future immediate period of approximately two years”.
“They ask me: would he be a good presidential candidate after two years? I say: yes, if he is not President of the European Council in the meantime. If he is President of the European Council, he cannot be both. at the same time,” he added.
According to the President of the Republic, it would not have been possible to prevent António Costa from resigning: “How do you stop someone who is very deeply, very deeply convinced that that is the only right way out in his life? is impossible, it is impossible.”
Source: DN
