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Europe Today: Orbán rivendica la vittoria al vertice Ue su Ucraina e Iran
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00:15Buongiorno, è Friday 20 Marche, I'm Maeve McMahan e you're watching Europe Today,
00:20your daily dose of European news and analysis, live here on Euronews.
00:25Coming up after hours and hours of talks, a tense e-summit in Brussels has come to an
00:32end. After over 12 or 13 hours of meetings inside the Europa building, leaders have called
00:37it a day. From a proposed loan to Ukraine to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East,
00:42their agenda was packed, but war-tone Ukraine's President Zelenskyy left empty-handed. Once
00:47again, the Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, blocked a 90 billion euro loan for
00:53Ukraine, holding up the deal over an oil dispute between Budapest and Kyiv. EU Council President
00:59Costa was fuming. Leaders also discussed the spike in energy prices due to the ongoing escalation
01:04in the Middle East and the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, but repeated that this is not Europe's
01:10war. But speaking on Euronews' special EU summit show, Trump's former security advisor, John
01:15Bolton begged to differ. This is Europe's war. And to say, as some European leaders have,
01:22that it's not Europe's war is simply an invitation to Donald Trump to say, OK, fine, it's not Europe's
01:30war. And, you know, Ukraine, it's not America's war. For more, we can bring in our correspondent,
01:36Shona Murray, who's been following every twist and turn of the long EU summit for us.
01:41Good morning, Shona. So John Bolton, they're saying this is Europe's war. EU leaders say
01:46it's not. Who's right?
01:50Well, two things can be true at the same time, Maeve. I think EU leaders can objectively say
01:54that this isn't actually their war. They weren't consulted. They're not party to the conflict.
01:59They're not sending military assets to intervene on either side. They're calling for de-escalation.
02:04In fact, some of them extol the virtues of this potential war if it were to take out the
02:09tyrannical regime in Tehran. But at the same time, Europe has to deal with this war, potentially
02:14migratory routes towards Europe. And also, moreover, the implications being the skyrocketing
02:20gas and oil prices that are definitely hitting the European economy. So problematically, it
02:26is Europe's war. Now, yesterday, we heard some European leaders, including Japan, said that
02:30they'll try to chart a way forward to securing the Strait of Ormuz, potentially diplomatically,
02:36because they ruled out sending any sort of military mission. In addition, John Bolton
02:41is also right, because if Europe decides to, let's say, condemn or criticise Donald Trump
02:46for this war and the impact it's having on them, he may decide, well, I won't be selling
02:50any more weapons to Ukraine, and I won't be supporting Ukraine from a military intelligence
02:54perspective. So they have to tread carefully. Maeve?
02:57And Shona, yet another summit overshadowed by a Hungarian veto. And President Costa, we could
03:02see visibly furious. Fill us in.
03:07Well, you know, we've been here before, Victor Orban. He's been in power for 16 years, and
03:11he has blocked things at EU Council level before. But this was the most confrontational and
03:16angry I've ever seen sort of EU leaders. Afterwards, people like the Swedish Prime
03:22Minister saying that this was full of anger, that the clashes were very bad. We had Friedrich
03:26Mertz, the German Chancellor, saying that Orban was violating the very foundational principles
03:31of cooperation at EU level. Bart Deweyver, the Belgian Prime Minister, also making the
03:37point that he can't believe that Victor Orban endorsed this loan before Christmas, and now
03:41he's not going to execute it. As we know, the whole idea is that Victor Orban is saying
03:44he's blocking 90 billion euros for Ukraine unless the Druzba pipeline passaging Russian oil
03:50to Slovakia-Hungary is fixed. So last night, Antonio Costa, the President of the European
03:56Council, was asked about this by our own colleague Jorge, and he responded in very strong terms,
04:01essentially accusing Orban of blackmail.
04:04The leaders take the floor to clear condemn the attitude from Victor Orban to remember that
04:14that once a deal, a deal is a deal, and all the leaders need to honour their word. And nobody
04:24can blackmail the European Council. Nobody can blackmail the European Union institutions.
04:31Antonio Costa, President of the European Council there, making the point that there has to be
04:35some sort of resolution to this. But at the same time, Maeve, Victor Orban has successfully
04:40blocked this loan. There's a consensus also, Maeve, that he's in the middle of an election
04:45cycle, a general election, and he's using this as a sort of a soapbox to speak to the
04:50Hungarian voters back home, that he's a sort of a strong man that has huge control at EU
04:55level. And in that way, he'd be right, Maeve.
04:57Well, indeed, those elections, Shona, taking place on the 12th of April, what's at stake here?
05:04Well, I mean, for Victor Orban, lots at stake for European Union, lots at stake, particularly
05:08for Ukraine, because Victor Orban has made it his business to block not just the 90 billion
05:13euro loan, but he's also blocking the passage of the Ukraine, becoming a member of the European
05:18Union. And he spoke to our Europe Today editor Maria Tadeo last night, and he accused the European
05:25Union of actually meddling in the Hungarian election, saying that they're trying to push
05:29that there's an actual policy to push him out of government. Now, remember, he is trailing
05:33in the polls, and the opposition leader, Peter Major, is doing very well in the rural
05:37constituencies, which are key for Victor Orban. But take a listen to that conversation last
05:41night.
05:42Here in Brussels, many of them, especially EPP, think that the only way out of this situation
05:49is that the national government lose the election and the pre-Ukrainian government will be formed.
05:54This here is not just a hope, it's a programme, may I say. Even they finance the Hungarian
05:58opposition from here.
06:00It's Ursula von der Leyen. You say they have a programme. Who is the programme? And would
06:04you add, Ursula von der Leyen wants you out of government?
06:06All the European institutions, including parties and the Commission, would like to have a change
06:12in Hungary of the government, and they finance it, yes.
06:15Victor Orban there, speaking to our Maria Tadeo. And before that, of course, Euronews'
06:19Shona Murray giving a very comprehensive update on that EU summit last night. And of course,
06:24President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also joined those talks via a video link to discuss the ongoing
06:29situation in his country and the fact that his country will suffer dearly without this
06:33loan. Last month, we saw the IMF had to disperse $1.5 billion to keep the country running.
06:39For more on The View from Kiev, I'm joined here in the studio by Euronews' Ukraine correspondent,
06:44that is Sasha Vakalina. So another very tough summit for Ukraine with Antonio Kosta very, very
06:50angry, a man who's normally very mild-mannered.
06:52Indeed. And Volodymyr Zelenskyy being very, very disappointed, Maeve. This was a rare occasion
06:58when Volodymyr Zelenskyy was not here at the council himself in Brussels. He only connected,
07:02as you say, on the video link. This is not something that we're used to while covering
07:06the EU councils here. Apart from the €90 billion loan, there is another step that Hungary is blocking
07:14is the new package of sanctions against Russia. So all of that, this is an impasse that we're in now.
07:20And Viktor Orban, you know, insisted that he's not going to move anywhere, that he's not going to
07:26change his mind or have any sort of change of heart until the moment that the oil is flowing
07:33through Druzhba, the pipeline that was damaged by the Russian attack at the end of January,
07:37and which both Ukraine and the European Union promised to fix. Let's take a listen to what Viktor Orban
07:43had to say. We would like to get the oil which is our from the Ukrainians, which is now blocked
07:49by
07:49the Ukrainians. I will never support any kind of decision here which is in favor of Ukraine. Still,
07:55the Hungarians are not able to get the oil which belong to us. Viktor Orban insists that the oil is
08:01blocked by Ukraine and the Ukrainians, not because of the Russian attack on the pipeline infrastructure.
08:09Now, Volodymyr Zelensky indeed was very disappointed when he addressed the leaders and also when he
08:16delivered his usual and traditional evening address. But he did insist that he hopes that the European
08:21leaders will find the solution and will find a way to unblock this loan for Ukraine. This is what he
08:27said.
08:32We are confident that Europe will stand by us and find a way to deliver on what has already been
08:38agreed. I
08:39would like to thank every leader who stands with us on these issues because this is a matter of
08:44protecting the lives of our people and safeguarding normality.
08:49Volodymyr Zelensky there. And Sasha, how will Ukraine now manage without this money?
08:54Ukraine will have to find the solution, but also the timeline is very interesting because there's not
08:59much time left now. Ukraine will be running out of money with this big financial hole looming.
09:03In just a couple of weeks, Kyiv said that they might find the solution to stretch it a little bit,
09:09but not too much. Ukraine's finance minister spoke to Euronews as well during the during the summit.
09:17And this is what he said about Kyiv's way forward.
09:21It's definitely not welcoming news from you from Russell, but I think that
09:29all our counterparts and countries which support in Ukraine are doing their best to secure Ukraine's
09:35financial needs for next two years. That's why I'm confident enough that rather sooner than later,
09:42we will be able to get access for this 90 billion euro.
09:45The sooner the better for Ukraine, but also for the European Union regarding delivering
09:50its promise and already the decision that has been agreed upon in December. Now,
09:54not a single decision when it comes to aid for Ukraine from the European Union is an easy one.
09:58There are always like consultations and talks and rounds and rounds of negotiations. So
10:02this is why it's specifically disappointed. Regarding the timeline, though, for Druzba pipeline,
10:08now, it is expected to be fixed the earliest in the second half of April. Now, the question is how
10:15much time will it take from that moment onwards for Hungary past the elections, of course, to unblock
10:22the package and unblock that loan? It's pretty gripping. Whatever happens, of course, we will report it.
10:27Sasha Vakilina, thank you so much for that update. Now, you might remember that this EU summit was
10:32actually meant to focus on competitiveness and boosting the European economy. An EU leaders retreat
10:38in February had actually set the scene. EU leaders want to deepen the single market,
10:42make it easier for startups and scaling up across EU borders. In our special summit show last night,
10:48Euronews editor Maria Tadeo spoke to the former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta,
10:52the author of that famous paper, One Europe, One Market.
10:55It was supposed to be the European Council for competitiveness. The European leaders, they have to
11:02intervene on both sides. Immediate interventions to lower the cost of energy today, but they have to
11:10continue working on implementing the reports on how to strengthen European economy, integrating the
11:17single market, creating this plan, One Europe, One Market, that is for the next months and next years.
11:24The main problem with Trump, you know, is Trump is setting the agenda every day in a different way.
11:31The European leaders, they have to be very, very focused on their own agenda. That is fundamental.
11:37So a bit of a cold shower there from Enrico Letta, reminding EU leaders that despite the fact that
11:42their summit was derailed by ongoing crisis in a world dominated by President Trump and geopolitical
11:48competition, Europe needs to respond fast by completing the single market, which allows, of course,
11:53the free movement of goods, capital and services and people. EU leaders also dived deep into the
11:59topic of ETS. That's a huge chunk of Brussels climate policy that aspires to make big polluters pay.
12:06If you haven't heard of ETS, our Jakob Janos has you covered.
12:11Spring is coming to Brussels, but all your reporter hears when he goes outside is ETS, ETS, ETS, ETS, ETS,
12:20ETS scheme.
12:21And that is because 10 EU countries are in open revolt against the bloc's flagship climate policy.
12:26But hold on. What actually is the ETS? And why is there such a massive backlash against it?
12:34ETS, so emissions trading system, is essentially Europe's carbon market. And it works on a simple
12:40polluter pays principle. Heavy industries, power plants and airlines must buy allowances to cover the
12:47carbon they emit into the atmosphere. It is used for two main goals. To force companies to cut their
12:54greenhouse emissions and to push them to invest in sustainable green technologies. In the last 20
13:00years, the ETS has slashed greenhouse gas emissions by 39 percent and has generated over 260 billion
13:08euros to fund clean energy. But 10 member states, including Italy, Poland and Austria, say the system
13:15is moving too fast. Italian industry minister Adolfo Urso even called the ETS a tax with a perverse
13:22effect, warning it prevents Europe from competing globally. And critics argue that with energy prices
13:29already soaring from the war in Iran, adding high carbon costs creates an existential risk for
13:35European businesses. And here is an example. The chemical sector alone reports that over 100
13:41facilities have shut down, wiping out 75,000 jobs. And that is why Italy is pushing to suspend the system
13:49entirely. And the rest demand the EU extend free carbon allowances beyond 2034. Look, I know all of
13:57that sounds a bit technical, but one thing is clear. The energy transition is no longer just a climate
14:04goal. It has become a battle for European security and industrial survival.
14:13Jakob Janus reporting for us there. And now to talk us through the dramatic summit yesterday that
14:18raises more questions now than answers. We're joined here on set by Hildegard Bentela, the senior
14:23German Conservative member of the European Parliament from the CDU party. Thank you so much for joining us.
14:28So quite a night there. Pretty rough for Ukraine. What's the plan B now?
14:35Well, for the time being, we need more consultations now.
14:43Well, nobody expected this kind of outcome. But I think, you know, there was the offer to inspect
14:50the pipeline, maybe, you know, which was not, you know, well perceived because Slovak and Hungarian
14:55participants couldn't attend. So maybe there's another attempt, you know, to bring...
15:01So when you say nobody expected this outcome, you mean nobody expected that veto last night from
15:05the Hungarian prime minister?
15:06I think not to that extent. So this is why we do not have yet a plan B and, you
15:12know, leaders
15:13left without, you know.
15:15And are you furious also with Viktor Orban the same way Antonio Costa was?
15:21Yes, of course. But I think it's a tactic we know. So and this is why I mean, you know,
15:27there were some difficulties at the beginning. And this is, I think, why the presidential commission
15:32reached out, you know, with this idea to inspect the pipeline. And as we know, it didn't went well.
15:36If it had gone well, maybe, you know, the outcome was would have been different to accommodate.
15:42Indeed, because this should have been done months ago.
15:43And the war in the Middle East, it's entering now its 20th day. What is the EU doing to stop
15:49it?
15:49And is this Europe's war?
15:51Well, it's not from the beginning Europe's war. And Israel didn't ask, you know, for EU participation.
16:00We now see the effects, the economic effects of the war. But I would also think we need some
16:06strategic patience because we are in the third week. I expect it ongoing for two or three more weeks.
16:13But then and this was also seen from the leaders of the Gulf, you know, they are also very furious
16:20about Iran.
16:20And I think there will be a reshaping of the Middle East. And, you know, do you support the war?
16:26Do you support what Israel is doing now, especially in Lebanon?
16:30Well, supporting is said too much, but I think it's a it's a huge, I understand the opportunity for Israel,
16:38because now to fight Hezbollah, what Lebanon leaders also want to do, the Lebanese army wants to do,
16:44it is a big opportunity to throw back Hezbollah strongly, because now they lack the support of Iran.
16:55And I think, you know, this could reshape really the relations between Lebanon and Israel.
17:00And this would, you know, bring a lot of more security to Israel, which was the problem all the time.
17:06But are you concerned that one million people now are displaced in Lebanon?
17:09Sure. I mean, the war always brings displaced people with it. But we also have to remind that there are
17:15thousands of displaced Israelis in the north of Israel, because they were attacked constantly
17:21for the last two years from Hezbollah. So Hezbollah took the opportunity after the attack of Hamas to
17:28to attack also Israel very strongly. So this is an escalation which took place over the last two years.
17:34And I do understand that's a whole concept. It's not only throwing back Iran's nuclear and
17:39ballistic missiles, but also the immediate threat through terror organizations, which aggress Israel every day.
17:45And another big topic this week, your party celebrated 50 years with a big celebration
17:50that was overshadowed by the big scandal facing Manfred Weber, your boss, for working very closely
17:55with the far right. Should Manfred Weber resign, do you think?
17:58Oh, no. No, of course not. But we should have a very clear line regarding the ESN,
18:04because this is mainly constituted of AFD members. So we have a very clear
18:11strategy not to work with them. And we should not do this on any levels if it's
18:15but he did it. Yeah, but he said also it's not needed in numbers and it's not needed in content.
18:20And we should be very clear about that and show that they are not needed and have no influence.
18:25And apart from the WhatsApp group, is there more encounters taking place with the AFD?
18:28Dinners, lunches? Not that I know. And I think I'm one of those who, you know, is very much
18:34asking for a very, very strict line. And I think we should, we will discuss this in the next group
18:39meeting. And I'll be a strong supporter of keeping this very clear, clear red line. And I think
18:44should also be acceptable for other members of the group.
18:47But it just finally did it dampen the mood at the big party this week?
18:51Well, I mean, it's a very German issue. I think it was not reported on, you know, in other countries.
18:57So maybe that's...
18:58Well, it's being reported here on your news live to the world.
19:01And Ms. Bente, thank you so much for coming into us here on Europe Today on your news. Take care.
19:06And that, of course, brings this edition of Europe Today to an end. Thank you so much for tuning in.
19:11And you can read more about any of the stories we're covering. And of course,
19:14more in-depth analysis on that EU Summit on euronews.com. Thanks again for tuning in.
19:19Take care and see you soon on euronews.
19:21Bye.
19:57Grazie a tutti.
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