Unleashing Billions for Hungary Amidst Controversy
For years, Europe's critics have piled allegations on Budapest, accusing it of denting EU standards and core values. Yet, now, Brussels is shifting gears and loosening the purse strings for Hungary's President, Orban, by unfreezing EU funds worth ten billion euros. This move has stirred up debate, particularly before the upcoming EU summit on Ukraine.
The EU Commission has given the green light to unthaw ten billion euros blocked in EU funds for Hungary. The Commission justified its decision by asserting that Hungary had fulfilled necessary conditions. However, a sizeable portion of the budget and coronavirus aid funds worth nearly twelve billion euros and billions more, still remain locked away.
Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders explained that Hungary had ticked all the agreed boxes with the latest judicial reforms, thereby ensuring an enhanced reassurance of judicial independence in the country. He emphasized that the current decision is not a final act, and the EU will remain vigilant, ready to intervene should anything go awry.
Will Orban Snap the Blockade Chains?
There's been feverish anticipation surrounding the impact of the released funds on Orban's blockade threat at the impending EU summit. Set to convene on Thursday and Friday in Brussels, the meeting will delve into the commencement of EU accession negotiations with Ukraine, and a long-term budget for 2021-2027. Orban has threatened to scupper these issues.
Facing criticism over the Commission's proposal for Ukraine's accession negotiations beginning, Orban contended that the Commission's proposal wasn't compatible with a summit decree from June 2022. He argued that the Brussels authority was pushing ahead with accession talks, despite unmet reform requirements. However, the summit resolution specified that further action in the accession process should only proceed once all conditions have been met. While the start of EU accession talks is a symbolic step, given the likely protracted negotiations and Ukraine's unlikely accession before the end of the Russian conflict, the confusion remains as to whether Orban is merely attempting to pressure for the release of funds for his country or is adamant in his refusal to budge on Ukraine.
A Contentious Gift to Orban?
The European Parliament has expressed strong disapproval of the EU Commission's decision. Green MEP Daniel Freund described it as "the biggest bribe in EU history – ten billion euros – to the autocrat and Putin friend Viktor Orban." Meanwhile, leaders of the Christian Democrat, Social Democrat, and Liberal groups in the European Parliament also shared their concerns.
In response, the EU Commission maintained that if the funds hadn't been released, the EU would expose itself to vulnerability after the recent Hungarian reforms. The timing of the decision, however, sparked concern, given the EU summit looming this Thursday and Friday. Critics argued that the timing may suggest a connection with Orban's blockade threats.
The EU had initially froze €19 billion due to concerns about a lack of commitment to combat corruption and uphold rule of law under Prime Minister Orban. Over the years, the EU Commission has launched numerous infringement proceedings against Hungary and taken the country to the European Court of Justice on multiple occasions.
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The debate over the EU's decision to unfreeze ten billion euros for Hungary is once again re-ignited by Green MEP Daniel Freund, who slammed the decision as the biggest bribe of history to Putin's ally, Viktor Orban. Despite this, EU Commissioner, Didier Reynders, claims Hungary has fulfilled all conditions, and EU funding will continue to be monitored closely. This move comes as Hungary poses a threat to potentially veto the start of Ukraine's accession talks at the upcoming EU summit.
