Hungary supports common European defence policy but not joint borrowing, PM Orban says

Hungary should take part in common European defence policy and contribute funds to it, but should not agree to joint borrowing by the European Union, Prime Minister Viktor Orban told state radio on Friday, ahead of an EU summit next week. European leaders backed plans last week to spend more on defence amid fears that Russia, emboldened by its war in Ukraine, may attack an EU country next and that Europe can no longer rely on the U.S. to come to its aid. On Monday, EU finance ministers began discussing how to pay for defence through new joint borrowing, existing EU funds and a greater role for the European Investment Bank, with a view to taking decisions in June.

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Hungary should take part in common European defence policy and contribute funds to it, but should not agree to joint borrowing by the European Union, Prime Minister Viktor Orban told state radio on Friday, ahead of an EU summit next week. European leaders backed plans last week to spend more on defence amid fears that Russia, emboldened by its war in Ukraine, may attack an EU country next and that Europe can no longer rely on the U.S.

to come to its aid. On Monday, EU finance ministers began discussing how to pay for defence through new joint borrowing, existing EU funds and a greater role for the European Investment Bank, with a view to taking decisions in June..