Politico: EU Considers Invoking ‘Nuclear Option’ To Punish Hungary

Orbán received a “black mark” because of Ukraine.

Things will not go well in Hungary if it tries to interfere with European leaders who will meet next week to approve life-saving aid to Ukraine worth 50 billion euros, Politico writes, citing a European official.

“After years of a softly-softly approach with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, this time European diplomats are giving signals that the “nuclear option” — kicking Budapest out of the EU voting process — is no longer unthinkable if he imperils the security of Ukraine, an EU candidate country,” the publication notes.

It is noted that this may happen if the EU were to use its so-called Article 7 — the most serious political sanction on a member country that involves suspending its right to vote on EU decisions.

Five European officials and diplomats said other countries in the bloc are ready to make a move against Budapest in what would be a historic move for leaders who rely on cohesion and unanimity.

“If Orbán really blocks again an agreement [on the budget and the €50 billion for Ukraine] at the February summit, using Article 7 to strip Hungary of its voting rights could become a real option,” said one EU diplomat.

For years, the European Union has attempted to keep Hungary’s democratic backsliding in line, withholding aid as the country slid away from the bloc’s liberal values. In return, Orbán used tactical vetoes on a wide range of European files to wrangle more money in the past years.

“It’s clear that heads of state and government are fed up with Orbán,” said Steven Van Hecke, a European politics professor at KU Leuven. “It’s time for Orbán to realize that the threat of Article 7 now exists.”

At the same time, some countries are fearful of invoking Article 7, several diplomats said, because they worry they could face similar scrutiny over rule of law issues at home in the future.

Up until the special summit of leaders next Thursday, EU leaders and the European Commission are trying to pull Orbán back into the fold, rather than alienating him further with the threat of Article 7. France, for example, have held back from publicly criticizing Orbán lately.

In December 2023, Hungary's controversial Prime Minister Viktor Orbán vetoed €50 billion in European Union aid to Ukraine. The bloc then promised to find a way to support Ukraine.

Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs hopes that all 27 EU member states can soon reach consensus on approving funds for Ukraine.