Orban in shortage: EU Commission wants to freeze billions of euros

Created: 2022-11-30Updated: 2022-11-30 12:54 p.m

By: Florian Naumann

Viktor Orban at a rally in Zalaegerszeg.

© Attila Kisbenedek/AFP

Hungary must continue to worry about EU funds in the billions: The EU Commission wants to freeze the funds - also out of concern for the rule of law.

Brussels – The EU Commission is confronting Hungary.

The financially potentially painful blow to Viktor Orbán had already been indicated before, now it's official: Ursula von der Leyen and Co. want Budapest to block the payment of 13.3 billion euros.

It's about money from the community budget and Corona aid.

Above all, however, it is about a highly explosive tug of war.

EU politicians have long seen Orbán's government deviate from the rule of law.

The Commission has now declared: Reform steps announced by Hungary to improve the independence of the judiciary were not enough.

The authority also criticized corruption and problems with public procurement.

Viktor Orbán under pressure: EU Commission wants to freeze billions – exit open

The EU Commission's recommendation to freeze funds from the Community budget could be accepted by an EU Council of Ministers in the next few weeks.

However, a qualified majority would be necessary - that is, at least 15 of the 27 EU states would have to agree and together make up at least 65 percent of the total population of the EU.

It is still unclear whether this majority will result.

In the case of Corona aid, the Commission proposes formally confirming the Hungarian plan for using the funds.

However, payments should only be made if the country meets a catalog of requirements.

This includes those formulated in the rule of law process.

The Commission acted similarly in the case of Poland, whose plan was already adopted in the middle of the year.

Hungary holds the trump cards: Ukraine sanctions and NATO membership

The further developments are eagerly awaited, above all because Hungary has considerable means to exert pressure on the EU.

For example, the government in Budapest could block all decisions that require unanimity in the EU.

This applies, for example, to sanctions against Russia or decisions to support Ukraine in the war against the neighboring country.

Hungary has also not yet waved through the NATO accession of Sweden and Finland.

Representatives of the Hungarian government were deliberately relaxed before the commission's recommendation.

Since all promises are being implemented, it is to be hoped that all EU funds will be available next year, said Minister for Regional Development Tibor Navracsics in Budapest on Tuesday.

Among other things, Hungary has met EU requirements by creating a new "integrity authority" to review suspected cases of corruption.

Further legislative changes in this sense are planned for the coming week.

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