Maltese MEPs have openly deplored Hungarian leader Victor Órban’s threat to pull the plug on key Ukrainian issues including its potential membership and crucial funding, by using its veto power.

On Thursday, European leaders are in Brussels for the last summit of the year, discussing pressing topics including Ukraine, the Middle East, and enlargement.

And while European Parliament President Roberta Metsola has pressed about unity for the future of the EU, players like the EU’s enfant terrible, Hungary threaten to stall Ukraine’s accession talks and fundamental funding through its veto vote.

Maltese MEPs deplored Orban’s ability to “hold the whole Union hostage on everything”.

“This is Von der Leyen’s worst decision of this mandate and has found the exasperation of all democratic groups in the European Parliament, including from various Members of her own EPP party,” Cyrus Engerer told Lovin Malta.

“One fascist government cannot keep the whole Union hostage on everything.”

“This is not the sincere spirit of cooperation one signs up for when joining the European Union.  This autocratic regime that has no respect towards our common European values, the rule of law, the protection of minorities and human rights must not be allowed to destroy what our for parents built over the years.  We need to move ahead with Article 7 procedures on Hungary and make sure that any future Treaty changes do not allow such a situation.

This is because membership negotiations cannot start until all EU governments agree, in the form of an unanimous decision by the EU Council, on a framework or mandate for negotiations with the candidate country.

And in an apparent rebuke to Hungary, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz earlier said there needed to be more decision-taking by qualified majority in the EU to prevent single nations from having a veto on issues such as accession.

MEP David Casa also condemned Orban’s political recklessness.

“Victor Orban’s reign in Hungary is responsible for the collapse of the rule of law and the constant deterioration of the rights of Hungarian citizens. His antics in Brussels are as nauseating as they have become predictable,” he said.

“On Ukraine let’s be clear. No country should become a member of the European Union before it is ready for membership. But the EU is politically committed to closer ties with Ukraine and the process that leads to eventual membership should be carried out in good faith. It is becoming all the more evident that Orban’s presence at the negotiating table in Council is a significant vulnerability for the European Union to the benefit of Vladimir Putin.”

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola had firmly optimistic words about Ukraine’s EU membership amid shadows cast by Hungary’s threat to veto the accession.

“The European Parliament is very clear. Enlargement is an investment in peace, in security and benefits our society. Enlargement also means we must be ready to reform. We insist on accelerating these talks for accession, talks on what the EU will look like in the future and take them seriously,” Metsola said, addressing a crucial Brussels summit today.

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