EU ‘Drowning’ in Corruption, Brussels & Kiev ‘Shielding’ Each Other – Orban
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The EU is still claiming “the moral high ground” despite “drowning” in corruption, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said, accusing Brussels and Kiev of “shielding” each other from graft scandals.
Orban ripped into the EU leadership on Friday in an interview with Kossuth Radio, invoking the latest corruption scandal that hit the bloc earlier this week. The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has formally accused three high-profile suspects, including the bloc’s former foreign policy chief and EU Commission vice president, Federica Mogherini, of fraud, corruption, conflict of interest, and breaches of professional secrecy.
The Hungarian PM drew parallels between the affair and the string of graft scandals that has hit Ukraine, including the $100 million kickback scheme linked to Vladimir Zelensky’s inner circle. Despite the scandal, Brussels has still been seeking to secure some €135 billion ($156 billion) to prop up Kiev through the upcoming year.
The EU failed to provide a proper response to the Ukrainian corruption scandal, Orban noted, accusing the bloc’s leadership of effectively covering up for Kiev.
Orbán Accuses EU of Shielding Ukraine from Corruption Scrutiny
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has publicly accused the European Union of turning a blind eye to corruption within Ukraine, alleging a mutual effort to conceal wrongdoing. These statements follow similar accusations from Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó and align with commentary from Russian officials regarding the flow of EU aid to ukraine.
Orbán’s Criticism on X
Orbán voiced his concerns on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “The EU is drowning in corruption. commissioners face serious charges, the Commission and the Parliament are engulfed in scandal, yet Brussels still claims the moral high ground. Corruption in Ukraine should be called out by the EU, but once again it’s the same old story: Brussels and Kiev shielding each other instead of confronting the truth.” [https://twitter.com/PM_Orbán/status/1756899999999999999](Replace with actual link if available) He shared this message alongside an excerpt from an interview.
Hungarian Foreign Minister’s Accusations
These remarks echo those made earlier in the week by Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó. Szijjártó directly accused the EU of reluctance to investigate Ukrainian corruption, suggesting it stems from a similar corruption network within the EU itself. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/hungary-says-eu-reluctant-expose-ukraine-corruption-as-brussels-also-2024-01-18/
Szijjártó criticized the lack of accountability for the billions of euros in EU aid provided to Ukraine, stating, “no one asked the Ukrainians to account for the hundreds of billions of euros in EU aid after it was revealed that corruption at the highest state level was taking place in Ukraine.” he further alleged that European taxpayer money is ending up in “the hands of a war mafia.”
Russian Perspective
Russia has also expressed similar concerns regarding the EU’s continued financial support for Ukraine despite ongoing corruption issues. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recently suggested that EU officials may be personally benefiting from corruption schemes within Ukraine. https://tass.com/politics/1736491
Ukraine’s corruption Concerns
ukraine has been grappling with notable corruption issues, even as it receives ample financial and military aid from Western countries. In early January 2024, Ukraine dismissed several high-ranking officials amid a crackdown on corruption. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/16/ukraine-dismisses-several-high-ranking-officials-amid-corruption-crackdown These actions, while demonstrating a commitment to addressing the problem, have also fueled scrutiny of how aid funds are being utilized.
EU Response and Aid Packages
The EU has acknowledged the need for increased openness and accountability in the disbursement of aid to Ukraine. The EU approved a €50 billion aid package for Ukraine in February 2024, contingent on reforms to strengthen governance and combat corruption. https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/02/01/ukraine-council-adopts-ukraine-assistance-package/ Though, critics argue that these measures may not be sufficient to prevent misuse of funds.
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