Hungary and Slovakia’s Russia policy is a thorn in the side of other EU states, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz implied at a public event on Monday, May 26th.
Speaking at the WDR Europaforum, the chancellor said the two countries’ veto power allows them to block or weaken sanctions against Moscow. Merz declared that he is no longer willing to tolerate this.
“There could certainly be more forceful discussions, perhaps even more intense conflicts,” he stated, noting that he had spoken with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán last week about the matter.
Merz emphasized that the EU certainly has options to put pressure on both governments, including infringement proceedings for violations of the rule of law, adding
But there’s always the possibility of withdrawing European funds.
