Hungary’s Block on Ukraine Aid Could Result in EU Voting Rights Sanctions

Brussels – European Union member states are actively considering the possibility of suspending Hungary’s voting rights due to its repeated efforts to block aid to Ukraine, according to a report by the Guardian.

The potential move comes amid escalating political tensions for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who is currently facing one of his strongest domestic challenges in years from opposition figure Péter Magyar.

Orbán, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has consistently opposed military assistance to Ukraine following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. He has instead advocated for peace talks that critics say would entrench Russia’s control over occupied Ukrainian territories.

In Hungary, government propaganda posters have emerged bearing the phrase:

“Let’s not allow them to decide for us,”

These images portray Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European People’s Party leader Manfred Weber as antagonists—part of a broader campaign aimed at swaying public opinion ahead of a national referendum.

The referendum asks citizens:

“Do you support Ukraine becoming a member of the EU?”

Following the launch of the campaign, Orbán publicly urged Hungarians to vote against Ukraine’s membership, claiming, “we would have to spend all Hungary’s money on Ukraine.” The government has also made unsubstantiated claims that the influx of Ukrainian “cheap labor” could threaten Hungarian jobs and that low vaccination rates among Ukrainians might lead to disease outbreaks.

Will Hungary’s Ukraine aid veto push the EU toward Article 7 sanctions?

Hungary’s stance has gone beyond just military aid. It vetoed a €6 billion military reimbursement package meant for EU countries supporting Ukraine. The Orbán government has also refused to back joint EU statements in support of Ukraine and has repeatedly tried to weaken or block EU sanctions against Russia—though it has eventually yielded on some occasions.

These actions have reignited discussions among European leaders about triggering Article 7 of the EU Treaty. Article 7 allows for the suspension of a member state’s rights, including its voting rights, if it violates core EU values.

Can the EU rally around suspending Hungary’s voting rights?

However, activating Article 7 faces a significant hurdle: it requires unanimous approval by the other 26 member states. In the past, Poland had acted as a shield for Hungary, blocking attempts at censure. Now, attention is turning to Slovakia, whose Prime Minister Robert Fico is seen as the next likely defender of Orbán’s government.

An upcoming test looms on 31 July, when Hungary may once again block the renewal of EU sanctions targeting Russia. This sanctions package includes a freeze on €210 billion of Russian central bank assets, the profits from which are intended to support Ukraine’s defense. The principal of these frozen assets is also viewed as essential for Ukraine’s future reconstruction.

Despite Hungary’s history of eventually backing down from veto threats, EU diplomats remain cautious.

“If past trends are an indicator for the future, we should be fine. However, it would be unwise to take that for granted,”

a senior diplomat told the Guardian, emphasizing that contingency planning is already underway in case of a Hungarian obstruction.

Eurotoday is a daily online newspaper based in Belgium. Eurotoday offers independent and original reporting on European and international matters. With a pan-European outlook, it covers EU policy, leading developments in member states, and global issues from a distinctly European perspective.