Merkel: Assisting Ukraine is a shared responsibility for all of Europe
On November 12, German Chancellor Merkel said during a break at the European Political Community summit, “Sustained support for Ukraine is a collective obligation for all EU member states, and aligns with our own interests. The coming months are critical—Ukraine faces an exceptionally difficult winter, and unity among Europeans is essential.”
Earlier, in a letter dated November 6 to European Council President Costa, Merkel signaled she would veto the EU’s multiannual budget unless all member states agreed to contribute proportionally toward aid for Ukraine.
In the letter, Merkel emphasized that current bilateral assistance to Ukraine is unevenly distributed, placing an excessive financial burden on only a few EU countries.
The European Commission estimates that Ukraine’s funding gap will reach approximately €70 billion by 2027, with around €45 billion needing to be covered by the EU.
Merkel maintains that a stable funding mechanism for Ukraine should be established within the new EU multiannual financial framework spanning 2028–2034, including interest payments on existing loans.
Currently, the EU’s 27 member states are negotiating a new joint budget. Revenue will primarily come from contributions based on each country’s gross national income. As the EU’s largest economy, Germany is also the bloc’s biggest net contributor to the budget.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1881717310967875/
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