Commentary
Security
The Illusion of Peace Negotiations: Why Russia’s War of Aggression Has No Clear End
10 September 2024
19 June 2020
Be careful what you ask for. Especially when it is about money. The Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia have all been busy lobbying for more money in the EU’s next Multiannual Financial Framework (2021-2027).
“The Union faces new challenges. And the new tasks require additional resources”, Hungary’s PM Viktor Orbán declared, speaking also for his fellow politicians in the CEE region.
This was back in February, before the corona pandemic hit Europe and paralysed economic activity, from North to South and from West to East. After a three-month lockdown, European economies hit rock bottom.
Concern was mounting in Central European capitals that the corona crisis would overwrite the existing plans of the next MFF, and further cut the funds available for the region. It was received with relief that the 1.1 trillion euros package has not been touched, just on the contrary.