Budapest, in the hot seat when it comes to respect for the rule of law, said on Tuesday April 12 that the European Union should avoid being divided on this issue while a war is underway on its doorstep.
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“
In these very difficult times we must show solidarity
,” Hungarian Justice Minister Judit Varga said ahead of a meeting in Luxembourg.
"
We should focus on the issues that unite us rather than those that create divisions
," added the minister of this country bordering Ukraine which has seen a large influx of refugees.
“ Unshared
”
European concerns
She also highlighted the "
crushing
" victory won by nationalist leader Viktor Orban, close to Vladimir Putin, during the April 3 legislative elections, ensuring that voters "
do not share the concerns
" of the EU.
These concerns, contained in the European Commission's latest report on the rule of law in Hungary, relate to a deterioration of media pluralism but also to an insufficient fight against corruption.
"We should focus on the issues that unite us rather than those that create divisions"
Judit Varga, Hungarian Minister of Justice.
For the European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders on the contrary, the Russian invasion of Ukraine underlines the “
need to be very attentive to respect for the rule of law and rules within the EU
”.
EU affairs ministers are due to discuss Hungary and four other member states' compliance with democratic requirements, as part of a regular review of the situation in EU countries.
EU proceedings against Hungary
The problems identified in Hungary in terms of public procurement, conflicts of interest and corruption also led the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen to announce on April 5 the launch of a procedure which could lead to the suspension the payment of European funds to Budapest.
The official letter is due to be sent to the Hungarian government at the end of April, according to a European source.
“
We must first see the letter, analyze it in detail
” and “
we will respond to it
,” said Judit Varga.
The " conditionality
" mechanism
is a procedure in force since January 2021 but never used yet, allowing the payment of European funds to be suspended to a country where violations of the rule of law affecting EU finances are observed.
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Its implementation is expected to take between six and nine months and the final decision must be taken by a qualified majority of at least 15 of the 27 Member States, representing 65% of the EU population.
The insufficient fight against corruption is also the reason for the blocking by the Commission of the Hungarian recovery plan, amounting to 7.2 billion euros in European subsidies.
