The European Parliament has refused to approve funding for the EU Council because of the bloc's inability to provide Ukraine with additional Patriot air defence systems. This was reported by Yevropeiska Pravda with reference to MEPs.
Former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt of the Renew faction proposed to remove the approval of the European Council's budget from the agenda until member states can find the seven Patriot systems that Ukraine desperately needs.
He recalled the words of the EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, that European countries have a hundred Patriot systems and are unable to help Ukrainians with seven.
The decision was supported by 515 MEPs, with 62 against.
"The Parliament refuses to approve the Council's budget until the European Council decides to support Ukraine with additional Patriot missile defence systems!" he said in X.
BREAKING — Parliament refuses discharge of the Council budget until European Council decided to support Ukraine with additional Patriot anti-missile systems ! pic.twitter.com/zDvA4xyUct
— Guy Verhofstadt (@guyverhofstadt) April 11, 2024