The EU is looking for ways to bypass Budapest’s veto on aid to Ukraine.

According to Politico, one of the most radical options is Article 7. The prescribed procedure is applied if a country violates the fundamental values of the EU. Hungary may lose the right to vote as an EU member. However, Brussels now believes that the application of this article may have a negative result for the EU because it will fuel populism and force Hungary to leave the EU.

Another method to overcome Hungary’s opposition is to divide Ukraine’s €50B support package into smaller amounts. But this decision is also not ideal because it is more difficult to plan, there would be less confidence in Ukraine’s financial situation, and it also delivers a bad political signal indicating a split in the EU.

Another option is to postpone the main decisions on Ukraine until the beginning of 2024, hoping for an improvement in the situation. However, this option also signals a lack of unity.

At the same time, the EC does not agree with Viktor Orbán that the EC’s position regarding Ukraine’s accession to the EU is “unfounded and poorly prepared.”