Angela Merkel after the EU summit: We will talk with Hungary and Poland

– We must continue talks with Hungary and Poland – said Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday evening (19 November) after the EU video-peak. – There is a consensus on the EU budget, but not on the rule of law mechanism – explained the head of the German government.

– This is a very serious problem that we have to deal with – emphasized the Chancellor, when asked by journalists about the Polish and Hungarian veto to the EU budget. “We will work hard on it,” she said.

The chancellor declined to speculate on how the case would be resolved. She promised that Germany, which currently holds the EU presidency, would explore all possible options.

“At this point, we are still at the very beginning of the road,” the chancellor said. She assured that Germany would continue cooperation with Poland and Hungary to find a solution that would allow for an agreement on the budget.

When asked if she was considering the option of threatening Poland and Hungary with a deprivation of voting rights, Merkel said: – For me, in this context, there is no such word as threat. We have an obligation to find a solution. The chancellor emphasized that she did not know whether this solution could be found before Christmas.

The discussion on the multi-annual budget and the rule of law mechanism at the Thursday summit was conducted in the form of a videoconference.

EU leaders have not resolved the problem of blocking work on the long-term budget and the reconstruction fund. Poland and Hungary raised objections to the regulation linking EU funds to the rule of law.

Also read: EU summit without breakthrough. Government spokesperson statement

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