Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo stressed that the EU needs to maintain unity ahead of the tricky European Summit where heads of state will discuss extending support from Ukraine.
At the top of the agenda on Thursday and Friday are Ukraine’s formal invitation to start EU accession negotiations as part of the controversial EU enlargement package, which also includes Georgia and Moldova. Ukraine is also hoping for €54 billion in aid to shore up its economy in 2024.
"I think it's important that we give a strong message to our Ukrainian friends," Prime Minister De Croo said. "First, on military and financial support, and then on enlargement."
However, on Thursday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán called for a delay in the decision to open the path for Ukraine's European Union (EU) accession negotiations, despite the European Commission releasing about €10 billion of funds for Hungary on Wednesday.
Hungarian leader is denying accusations that he is using the Russian war in Ukraine to secure frozen EU funds which remain suspended due to his government's repeated failures to adhere to the rule of law.
Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban arrives. Credit: Belga / Nicolas Maeterlinck
While many interpreted the Commission's move as a goodwill gesture, Brussels has denied being blackmailed by Orbán over funds. The Belgian Prime Minister also dodged the question, instead calling for greater unity.
"Keeping that unity is crucial, and I do not want to get into some type of bazaar logic where we should be trading one thing with another," said De Croo. "This is about security for Ukraine, providing them with military and financial support, and this is the discussion."
The Belgian leader stressed that the strategy of the Russian President Vladimir Putin is to try to divide the European Union. "And we have been very good at keeping it all together. And this is a message that secures our population. To say we will, all 27, be there to protect one another."
Too fast?
De Croo also supported the European Commission's move to hold the discussions as a package, rather than discussing every country separately.
As joining the European Union demands a high degree of reforms, De Croo believes that Ukraine and other countries have done "a tremendous effort over the past months" and "applauded" all the work that has been done. "But not only do they need to do their homework, we need to do our homework as well," he continued.
Curiously, Belgium is also among a group of countries that is questioning the fast-tracking of Ukraine's accession talks, leaving behind countries like Bosnia and Herzegovina. The other EU Member States are Austria, Cyprus, Croatia, Italy, Greece, Hungary, Slovenia and Slovakia.
"For the moment, the European Union is not ready for a large enlargement, so we have to do our work ourselves," De Croo said "This takes some time. This is not a negative message. That is why the process needs to be started, but we need to do our homework as well."
