Some EU lawmakers oppose release of funds to Hungary's Orban

Some European Union lawmakers warned their executive Commission to stop unlocking billions in euros of funds for Hungary. They claimed Prime Minister Viktor Orban was violating democratic norms.

Next week, the Brussels-based European Commission will endorse Hungary funding in the amount of a tenth the country's 2022 estimated GDP. This is after Budapest has taken steps to strengthen anti-graft safeguards as well as the independence of its judiciary.

Orban clashed bitterly against the EU over democratic norms. The Hungarian leader placed restrictions on media, academics, judges, NGOs and journalists and repressed the rights of gays and migrants.

The European Parliament's Socialist & Democrats section, as well the Renew and Greens factions, said that the most recent changes were not enough to guarantee a stable democracy in Hungary.

Eider Gardiazabal Rubial (Spanish member of S&D) stated that the Hungarian government was not following the rule of law. He suggested that the correct decision would be to approve the freezing funds.

Sophia in 't Ved, a Dutch liberal, stated that Orban was trying to blackmail the EU by blocking joint decision requiring unanimity. These included a minimum global corporate income tax and €18 billion of planned support to Ukraine to fight Russia.

She said that horsetrading is incompatible with her values.

Daniel Freund, a German Green activist and ex-Activist for Transparency International, said: "Money should be frozen once and forever, it's what Orban understands."

The speaker for the largest group in the EU parliament, the centre-right European People's Party was less vocal. Budapest has been supported by a member of the European Conservatives and Reformists (where Orban's Fidesz is seated).

However, the heated exchanges are unlikely to distract from what EU sources said was a looming approval for funds totalling €14.7bn.

Didier Reynders, European Commissioner for Justice, spoke on behalf of the executive and said that there had been progress in recent months in negotiations between Brussels & Budapest.

Orban might not be able to unlock all the money, but he will likely get the conditional approval of the Commission for the €7.2bn that was earmarked for Hungary by the bloc's stimulus fund. This fund is intended to assist economies in recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is expected that the Commission will also suggest lowering penalties for corruption from €7.5bn (or 65% of development funds envisaged to Hungary in the future years).

Share this article: