As of 2024, enlargement policy,
foreign affairs, taxation, and the budget was “bound by the principle of
unanimity,” which means that each state government has a veto in the European
Council.[1]
With 27 states, the E.U. could in effect be held hostage quite easily. Even in
the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the state of Hungary was
blocking €55 billion in E.U. aid to Ukraine as of June 24, 2024, although revenue
from frozen Russian financial assets in the E.U. could be used (because Hungary
had not participated in the G7 decision) and Hungary had just reversed its veto
against further sanctions against Russia. However, the €1.4 billion from the
investment revenue pales in comparison and sanctions do not deliver desperately
needed military hardware to the besieged country.
1. Jorge
Liboreiro, “Ukraine
Heading for Accession Impasse during Hungary’s EU Council Presidency,” Euronews,
June 18, 2024.
