According to Finland, the ratification of NATO membership in the Hungarian Parliament should not be linked to EU-level decisions. According to the expert, it is obvious that Hungary is delaying the ratification in the hope of EU subsidies.
BRUSSELS The tension over Hungary’s EU subsidies is intensifying. Next week, the Commission is expected to evaluate whether Hungary meets the conditions set by the EU for the release of billions of subsidies.
At stake are both Hungary’s stimulus funds and part of the cohesion funding for Hungary, which is used to equalize the economic inequality between EU countries.
The Commission has threatened to cut Hungary’s cohesion funds by 7.5 billion euros if problems related to the rule of law are not addressed.
In addition, Hungary may lose 65 percent of its 5.8 billion euro stimulus funds if its stimulus plan is not approved later this year.
The deadline for the reforms required by the commission expired on Saturday. The commission is expected to assess Hungary’s reforms next week.
The pressure to find a solution is increasing
The pressure to find a solution is increasing day by day. Freezing subsidies has a direct impact on the economy of Hungary, which is struggling with the energy crisis and inflation.
– They are now doing everything they can to please the EU, and I think that the EU will once again look down on it, says a senior researcher Katalin Miklóssy from the Alexander Institute of the University of Helsinki.
At the same time, Hungary has blocked EU decisions that require unanimity, such as the international minimum corporate tax and the 18 billion euro aid package for Ukraine.
Hungary has also not ratified Finland’s and Sweden’s NATO memberships, citing Parliament’s urgency. According to Miklóssy, the reason for the delay is concern about EU subsidies.
– It is never said out loud, but it is very obvious that this card is being played here.
Hungary’s NATO decision is awaited
Hungary has emphasized several times that there are no obstacles to accepting Finland and Sweden as NATO members.
On the other hand, despite several inquiries, the country’s leadership has not been able to give a date for when the parliament can ratify the applications.
According to the Radio Free Europe news site (you will be redirected to another service) The Hungarian parliament could vote on the Finnish and Swedish applications on December 7. The date has not yet been officially confirmed.
A day earlier, on December 6, EU finance ministers are scheduled to decide on EU subsidies and stimulus money for Hungary.
Also on the table are Hungary’s aid package and the minimum tax proposal, which Hungary has blocked.
– How Hungary’s money is decided the day before will probably affect the debate in the parliament, says Miklóssy.
Finland hopes for quick approval
Finland has hoped for a quick processing of the NATO application in the Hungarian Parliament.
The European Minister who met in Brussels on Friday Titti Tuppurainen (sd.) warned Hungary against using the ratification of NATO membership in trade to save its aid money.
– Such an auction should not take place in the European Union, and especially not at a time when Europe is at war.
According to researcher Miklóssy, Hungary’s actions are not surprising.
– For a long time, Hungary has drawn such a rhetorical line that all sanctions are war-mongering or escalating the war and that the NATO membership debate does not serve the cause of peace either.
The sound on the clock will change if Hungary gets the EU money it wants.
– Then Hungary won’t cross paths with ratification either, says Miklóssy.
According to Miklóssy, freezing the funding could lead to the ratification being postponed until the future.
The basic values of the EU are being tested
The EU Parliament published last week critical assessment (you move to another service) On the reforms proposed by Hungary.
According to the MEP group that prepared the conditionality regulation aimed at protecting EU budget funds, Hungary’s proposed measures regarding corruption, public procurement and administration leave much to be desired.
According to MEPs, the actions presented by Hungary do not guarantee that the misuse of EU budget funds will end.
Regulation’s chief negotiator Petri Sarvamaan (collective), the effects of many actions on the use of EU funds cannot be verified in a short time frame.
Researcher Miklóssy’s assessment of Hungary’s reforms is harsh: they are only apparent.
– They are facade institutions that were invented at a very fast pace. They believe they work. They don’t work.
According to Miklóssy, the EU has so far had no desire to intervene in Hungary’s activities with a heavy hand.
– The commission has only struggled at the level of speech, but nothing has happened at the level of actual decisions.