The European Parliament approved on Wednesday an emergency aid package for Ukraine amounting to €1.2 billion.
The 12-month loan to be paid in two installments was initially proposed by the European Commission at the end of January and was approved by EU member states on Friday. The loan “provides quick support in the event of an acute crisis and strengthens the country’s resilience,” reads the text adopted by the European Parliament.
Half of the amount will be awarded immediately if certain conditions are met: Ukraine needs to show progress in implementing a macroeconomic program established by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), as well as guarantees of the rule of law.
MEPs gave the green light to the aid package in an emergency procedure, with 598 votes in favor, 55 against and 41 abstentions.
Cold War economy energy price EU Europe European Union Hungarian minority Hungary Russia Viktor Orbán Volodymyr Zelensky Hungary Ukraine EU talks tough on Russia, but business between East and West is booming
Ukraine’s government has stabbed Hungary in the back, says Hungary’s foreign minister
European Union Hungary Indigenous minorities language laws nationalism NATO Poland Russia Ukraine Russia Ukraine NATO closes ranks behind Ukraine even as its leaders systematically violate human rights
In order to show a united anti-Russian front, Western politicians are allowing Zelensky’s government plenty of room to crush minority rights inside his own country
New German coalition ‘a possible threat’ to Polish independence, says Polish professor and PiS MEP
European federalization will involve EU institutions seizing authority from weaker states, and Germany will continue to use these institutions to its own benefit, warns Law and Justice (PiS) MEP professor Ryszard Legutko
The EU is not prepared for open, democratic debates, says Hungarian foreign minister
The lack of open debates in the EU is worsened by double standards, Szijjártó said at a forum in Poland
Hitting the reset button on Europe
Conservative nationalists should not be looking to the founding fathers of Europe for a solution to the current challenge of a powerful, centralized Brussels, writes political scientist Tamás Fricz
Only strong nation-states can overcome the health crisis, says Hungarian justice minister
EU vaccine procurement is faltering, which means nation-states are picking up the slack, says Varga
Europe is navigating dangerous waters, warns Hungarian justice minister
Only strong member states can form a strong EU
The EU’s leadership is too white, claim two black MEPs
The MEPs accuse the EU of systematic racism in the midst of the coronavirus crisis, and the rapid spread of Black Lives Matter to Europe
Angela Merkel Coronavirus economy Emmanuel Macron EU budget European Union France Germany Hungary Ursula von der Leyen Viktor Orbán News EU leaders agree on €540 billion rescue package, clash over recovery financing
Deep divisions remain in Europe over how to fund.an economic recovery
The Visegrád Group is Hungary’s staunchest ally: historian
Brussels guilty of murdering the European Union
In an interview for Echo24.cz, Marek Mora, a new member of the Czech National Bank (CNB) board, described what will happen to the Czech economy and how the salaries will rise. The former head of the Budget, Tax and Regional Policy Directorate of the Council of the European Union also talked about why no deeper integration of the EU can be expected at this time.
Immigrants, clowns and neo-Marxists mentioned in Sulík-Poliačik clash
Richard Sulík, Slovak MEP (Freedom and Solidarity, SaS) criticized the ineffective Spanish immigration policy on his personal Facebook account. He got into a battle of words with former colleague Martin Poliačik, who addressed him as a clown on German television