The European Parliament will sue the European Commission for unblocked money for Hungary. At the same time, he is trying to persuade the authorities there to lift their veto on aid to Ukraine. And he remains concerned about the rule of law in the country ruled by Viktor Orbán. This was stated by two MEPs quoted by Reuters and BTA.
The case centers on the European Commission’s December decision to restore Hungary’s access to some 10.2 billion euros in aid, while Budapest blocked 50 billion euros in aid to Kiev.
Although the EU has criticized Hungary for years for undermining democratic checks and balances between the three powers under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Brussels said last year that Hungary had met the necessary rule of law conditions to receive the funds.
Many disagreed with this. “EU funds can only be provided if the rule of law works,” said Daniel Freund, a German Green MEP.
“€10 billion was allocated to Viktor Orbán without the necessary reforms being implemented.
This kind of backroom bargaining – EU money in exchange for a veto – should not be allowed in the EU,” he added.
The EC rejected the charge, saying the two decisions were unrelated. “The Commission believes it has acted in full compliance with EU law and will defend its decision before the EU courts,” a spokesperson said.
For the moment, the Hungarian authorities have not commented.
Another MEP who helped bring the case, German liberal Moritz Koerner, said the suit would include a demand that the EU’s top court, the one in Luxembourg, clarify the link between EU funds and democracy.
Both MEPs expressed hope that the case could lead to Hungary being ordered to pay back the money or, equivalently, reduce future payments to Budapest.
The EU court said the most severe sanction would be to overturn the EC’s decision from December, and it would be up to the commission itself to determine how to implement any such decision.
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