Ukraine has received tens of billions from the EU and is not an EU member state, while Hungary is unlikely to even secure EU aid even after major flooding.
Last week, Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, mentioned five flood-affected member states that could receive EU support, but Hungary was not among them. A spokesman for the committee reacted quickly to the president’s “mistake,” stating that Hungary could also benefit from the help offered by the European Union to the member states affected by the floods.
“Of course, EU support is due to all affected member states, including Hungary,” the spokesperson stated, adding that at the time of the statement in question, data on damages had only been received from the five countries mentioned – Austria, the Czech Republic, Romania, Poland and Slovakia.
Orbán says defense lines have held across the country thanks to volunteers and rescue workers. https://t.co/KhWGB70KuS
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However, the situation is not nearly so simple, reports Hungarian newspaper Magyar Nemzet. Brussels’ promise is misleading, as the support is subject to conditions.
With the €10 billion euros offered from the EU cohesion funds, only those countries that meet the criteria will be offered financial assistance. This criteria indicates that “in the case of a major natural disaster, the total direct damage must exceed €3 billion in 2011 prices or 0.6 percent of the GNI of the affected state, whichever is lower.”