Secret EU plan ‘to sabotage Hungarian economy’ revealed as anger mounts at Orbán

Viktor Orbán. The EU has tried to use funding as a tool to force Hungary into line on policies and the application of the rule of law. Photograph: Denes Erdos/AP

Officials in Brussels have reportedly drawn up a secret plan to sabotage Hungary’s economy if Viktor Orbán decides this week to again block a €50bn support package for Ukraine.

The plan, reported by the Financial Times, reflects the fury mounting across European capitals at what one diplomat called the “policy of blackmail” being pursued by the Hungarian prime minister, who leads the bloc’s most pro-Russia state.