Germany threatens EU states with loss of funding
Germany would consider supporting a suspension of EU funding to Slovakia and Hungary if the countries continue to oppose the bloc's sanctions policy against Russia, Chancellor Friedrich Merz has warned.
Bratislava and Budapest have also taken a critical stance towards Western policies regarding the Ukraine conflict. On Monday, the German chancellor lifted Kiev's restrictions on firing long-range German weapons deep inside Russia, a move the Kremlin has described as a 'serious escalation.'
Referring to Hungary and Slovakia, Merz warned that EU member states violating the rule of law could face infringement proceedings, adding that 'withdrawing European funds is always an option…If it is necessary, then we will deal with it.'
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban have repeatedly criticized EU leaders and argued that the West's military and financial backing of Kiev only prolonged the conflict, without yielding any progress. Fico survived an assassination attempt in May 2024, when he was shot at close range by a pro-Ukraine activist.
'We will not be able to avoid this conflict with Hungary and Slovakia if we continue on this course,' Merz said. 'We cannot allow the decisions of the entire EU to depend on a small minority. And there could certainly be clearer words and possibly also harder conflicts.'
Fico rejected Germany's threat to cut funding, calling it unacceptable and a breach of the bloc's democratic values.
'If someone wants to push a policy where only one opinion is allowed, that's the end of democracy in Europe,' Fico told reporters on Tuesday during a visit to Armenia.
Slovakia took what Fico calls a 'constructive' and pragmatic approach towards Russia since he came to power in 2023. Under his leadership, Bratislava has cut military assistance to Kiev and pledged to veto any new EU sanctions that could harm Slovakia's economy. Fico has visited Moscow twice since December to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, drawing criticism from both the EU and NATO.
'Europe needs Russia, and Russia needs Europe,' he said in a video message last week, reflecting on his visit to Moscow earlier this month.
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