VDL warned EU on brink of self-destruction as Orban sends stark message over 'terrible mistake'
Von der Leyen discusses EU support for Ukraine
Ursula Von der Leyen has been issued a stark warning by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who said the EU is on the brink of self-destruction.
In comments made ahead of the EU summit, he warned Von der Leyen that the bloc is "about to make a terrible mistake".
Speaking about the union's plans to begin membership talks with Ukraine - and provide 50 billion euros in financial aid - Orban said: "The European Union is about to make a terrible mistake, and they must be stopped.
"This is a mistake; we are destroying the European Union."
In comments made ahead of the EU summit, Orban warned Von der Leyen that the bloc is "about to make a terrible mistake".
PA
The Hungarian Prime Minister reiterated his threat to oppose the plans.
Orban has been in a battle with the EU in recent months, repeatedly blocking EU plans to continue providing financial support to Ukraine.
He also threatened to derail the EU's plan to grant Ukraine membership, saying Hungary would not take a decision on the nation's accession to the bloc until EU leaders held a "strategic discussion" on the issue.
Von der Leyen appears to be backed into a corner by Hungary, who are demanding around €30 billion in EU funding in exchange for the nation lifting its veto on support for Ukraine.
Brussels yesterday confirmed that it will release some €10 billion in EU funds, which were frozen over corruption and rule of law concerns.
But Orban's political director, Balázs Orbán, said they would only lift their veto if Brussels handed over all the money it had frozen - amounting to 30 billion.
The EU's ruling body agues it had no choice but to release the money because Hungary made the necessary reforms and now respects the rule of law.
One EU official told Politico: "A solution is possible.
"We will have to give [Viktor Orbán] something. That hurts, but that’s the way it goes.
They added: "We’re on a knife’s edge."
One EU official said that freezing funding "was actually much more effective than we had expected".
Another added: "We could keep freezing the funds, but then we would be bending the rule of law."
Orban has been in a battle with the EU in recent months, repeatedly blocking EU plans to continue providing financial support to Ukraine.
Meanwhile, there is a growing perception among Hungarian officials that the Commission forces its policies upon member states.
As a result, Balázs Orban has warned that Hungary’s support for Von der Leyen at next year's EU elections is no longer a given.
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He said: "We were very supportive of her.
"But now she’s pushing her own political agenda without consulting member states, on geopolitics, relationship with the U.S. and China, on war issues, sanctions."
He accused Von der Leyen of being at the helm of a "divisive" routine, saying that "the way the Commission is operating is not good for unity".
The political director added: "They come up with a proposal and then put pressure on member states to say yes."
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