Ukraine, EU funds and sanctions mentioned as new Hungary president visits Poland on first international journey

Hungary’s new president, Katalin Novák, has visited her Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda on her first journey overseas since taking workplace final week. The 2 leaders struck a conciliatory tone following current tensions between the allies over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Through the go to she appealed for Poland to assist Hungary safe billions of euros in frozen EU funds, whereas Duda pushed for Budapest to help more durable sanctions on Russia.

Novák linked the 2 points, noting that “sources are wanted” if Hungary is to safe different vitality sources. “We’re due to this fact asking for the help of President [Duda] as a way to receive from the European Fee the restoration funds which have been earmarked for us,” she stated.

Each Poland and Hungary have seen their share of Covid restoration funds frozen by the European Fee till they deal with rule of legislation issues. Nevertheless, in current days the Polish authorities has claimed to have reached an settlement that can see its cash unlocked.

Against this, final month the fee launched its new “conditionality mechanism” for the primary time towards Hungary, permitting it to doubtlessly reduce additional hundreds of thousands of EU funds for the nation.

The Polish and Hungarian governments have lately been shut political and ideological allies, particularly within the EU area, the place they’ve recurrently backed each other in clashes with Brussels over the rule of legislation, refugees and migrants, and tradition battle points.

Nevertheless, their very totally different responses to the battle in Ukraine – with Hungary’s ruling Fidesz occasion eager to keep up good relations with Russia however Poland’s Regulation and Justice (PiS) taking a strongly anti-Russian line – has put the allies at odds with each other.

Whereas after earlier election victories Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has made Poland the vacation spot for his first international journey, final month he broke with that custom after successful re-election, as an alternative visiting the Vatican.

Talking in Warsaw right now, Novák, who beforehand served as a minister in Orban’s authorities and as deputy chief of Fidesz, reiterated Hungary’s place that “we don’t agree with options that require Hungarians to sacrifice greater than they trigger ache to the Russian aggressor”.

“When we’ve got the fitting to say no to a choice and it’s within the curiosity of Hungary [to do so], we are saying ‘no’,” she added. Nevertheless, she additionally maade clear that Hungary “condemns Putin’s aggression” towards Ukraine, “stands by the harmless victims”, and “calls for punishment of battle crimes”.

Duda expressed understanding for Hungary’s place, noting that its “ties with Russia, together with elementary ties for the Hungarian financial system, are very robust and really tough to vary rapidly”. That process is made even more durable when EU funds are being withheld, he added, quoted by TVN24.

Nonetheless, the Polish president expressed hope that it will be doable for the EU, together with Hungary, to agree on a brand new sixth bundle of more durable sanctions towards Russia.

Duda additionally criticised the shortage of economic help from the EU for Poland, Hungary and different member states bordering Ukraine which have taken in giant numbers of refugees.

“Poland and Hungary should not supported by the EU to implement refugee assist,” stated Duda. “This coverage undermines European unity. I guarantee our visitors from Ukraine that we’ll do the whole lot to make sure that they obtain help and really feel comfy right here.”

Fundamental picture credit score: Jakub Szymczuk/KPRP