Page 38 - bne magazine February 2024_20240206

38 I Central Europe bne February 2024
Ursula von der Leyen defended the decision, saying Budapest had met
the four milestones to guarantee the independence of the judiciary. The remaining part of the cohesion funds and RRF funds, totalling €22bn, remains frozen until the Orban goverment meets all 27 super milestones, she stressed.
MEPs believe that Orban is violating the principle of cooperation by blocking a decision on the EU's multiannual budget needed for aid package for Ukraine.
"The EU must not give in to blackmail in any way and must not bargain for the strategic interests of the EU and
its allies in exchange for giving up its values," according to the text, referring to Orban blocking the proposal to give €50bn in aid to the war-torn country by amending the EU’s seven-year budget.
The fact that the Hungarian premier demands billions in EU funds while denigrating the EU Commission, von der Leyen, and the European Parliament with absurd conspiracy theories, shows the double standards he operates with," said Monika Hohlmeier (CSU) said at the debate.
EU leaders will gather again in February to hammer out a deal and try to bring Orban on board, but Hungary staunchly
opposes the amendment of the EU's seven-year budget Orban has previously proposed, which would split the €50bn aid in four tranches, which would require approval of the transfers annually.
The joint resolution also calls on the European Council and the member states to take action and to determine whether Hungary has committed serious and
a precedent if it is used. Such a decision would in any case require unanimity and this has so far been lacking.
Fidesz MEP Balazs Hidveghi called the EP resolution shameful and political blackmail. Before the vote, Orban said “they” wanted to give money to Ukraine for four years just five months before the elections, stripping people of their rights
“The EU must not give in to blackmail in any way and must not bargain for the strategic interests of the EU and its allies in exchange for giving up its values”
persistent breaches of EU values under Article 7(2) TEU, Petri Sarvamaa tweeted. The Finnish MEP initiated the procedure against the Commission and managed to collect the 125 signatures needed.
The European Parliament has previously proposed action against Hungary
under Article 7, which could lead to
the suspension of its voting rights, but member states have refused to follow through. Article 7 is seen as the "nuclear option" and member states fear setting
to make decisions. Hungary’s nationalist leader is hoping for a breakthrough of nationalist forces in the June election that could ease his isolation.
He has at least one ally in the European Council in the person of Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, who pledged to veto any initiative that would strip Hungary of its voting rights after his meeting in Budapest last week. He also agreed to support his Hungarian counterpart on the question of financial support to Ukraine.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban at the December European Council Summit. / bne IntelliNews
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