The Hungarian government is accused of using EU aid to silence the opposition, undermine the independence of the judiciary and gnaw at freedom of the press.
Teemu Juhola,
Rikhard Husu,
Petri Burtsoff
The EU is launching a new disciplinary procedure against Hungary, says the president of the commission Ursula von der Leyen.
The use of the so-called rule of law mechanism could lead to the suspension of EU aid to Hungary.
– This is a historic decision, as this is the first time that the rule of law has been linked and the EU funding received by a member state says the Finnish MEP who acted as the main negotiator of the mechanism. Petri Sarvamaa (kok.).
According to Sarvamaa, Hungary still has the opportunity to remedy the situation by demonstrably changing its practices. Otherwise, they will be deprived of EU subsidies.
According to Sarvamaa, both Hungary and Poland, another Member State accused of violating the rule of law, have tried to overshadow the situation at EU level in Ukraine.
He thanks the countries for receiving numerous Ukrainian refugees, but sees no reason to link these issues.
– The rule of law cannot be measured on political grounds, it is either adhered to or not adhered to, Sarvamaa says.
The Commission has not yet started implementing the rule of law mechanism against Poland.
“The Commission is not yet in a position to draw a clear line between the fact that the independence of the judiciary in Poland is clearly being called into question and the misuse of EU funds in Poland,” he said.
Relations between the EU and Hungary are tense
The Prime Minister of the EU and Hungary Viktor Orbánin the gaps are tight. For example, few EU leaders congratulated Orban on winning parliamentary elections on Sunday.
Orbánia has been criticized for trampling on democracy, the misuse of EU funds and corruption. During the Orbán era, minorities have been oppressed and there is no longer any real freedom of the press in Hungary.
Orbán, who has led Hungary for 12 years, and his Fidesz party were elected to the fourth term in parliamentary elections on Sunday.
Hungarian MEP Katalin Cseh is not one of Orbán’s supporters. He is pleased with the EU’s decision.
“The EU is finally showing that its membership brings not only benefits but also responsibilities,” he says in an interview with .
The Czech Republic hopes that the EU will also end its funding of Hungary.
– EU funds should not be used for authoritarian leaders to prop up their own power, he says.