EU heads of state and government discussed a 90 billion loan to Ukraine for 90 minutes on Thursday, March 19, but the Hungarian Prime Minister refused to lift his blockade, leaving the situation at a stalemate. European Council President António Costa stated that the Hungarian government's decision is 'unacceptable' and violates the principle of loyal cooperation, as Budapest had previously approved the loan in December. Costa also noted that the Druzhba pipeline repair is a separate issue already in progress and condemned recent threats made by President Volodymyr Zelensky against Viktor Orbán. Orbán maintains that his blockade is legally justified and insists he will not approve funds until Hungary receives oil. The summit is expected to conclude without an agreement, as Ukraine faces a funding shortfall by May.
EU Summit: Orbán refuses to lift blockade on 90 billion loan to Ukraine
Context & Explainers
- President of the European Council (since Dec 2024)
- Former Prime Minister of Portugal (November 2015 – April 2024)
- Party: Socialist Party (PS) Partido Socialista
- He is of Portuguese and Indian (Goan) descent
António Luís Santos da Costa (born July 17, 1961, in Lisbon) is a Portuguese lawyer and Socialist politician who served as Prime Minister of Portugal from 2015-2024 and currently serves as President of the European Council since December 1, 2024. After leading the Lisbon Municipal Assembly and practicing law, he was elected MEP (2004-2005) and entered parliament in 2002. He led the Socialist Party from 2014-2024, building unprecedented parliamentary coalitions with the Communist Party and Left Bloc (2015-2019) before winning an absolute majority in 2022. He resigned as PM in November 2023 following a corruption investigation, though subsequently cleared. The 27 EU member states elected him Council President in June 2024, making him the fourth full-time President and the first southern European socialist in that role.
Political Philosophy:
Costa represents moderate European social democracy, combining orthodox fiscal responsibility with progressive social investment. He prioritizes European integration, consensus-building, and pragmatic compromise over ideological confrontation. As Council President, he champions mediation between member states, improved EU inter-institutional relations, shorter decision-making processes, and regular visits to every EU capital to reconnect citizens with European institutions. His approach emphasizes "creative bridges" reconciling divergent interests while maintaining firmness on European values, particularly regarding Ukraine.
