Brussels will propose this Sunday to freeze assets for Hungary
The European Parliament plenary this Thursday denounced that Hungary has become a “hybrid regime of electoral autocracy”, in which elections are held but democratic standards are not respected, while accusing member states of inaction for failing to make progress in the Council with the procedure to punish members who seriously endanger the rule of law.
The report, adopted by 433 votes in favour, 123 against and 28 abstentions, recalls that four years ago the European Parliament itself started the procedure activating Article 7 of the EU Treaty and warns that the fundamental rights situation in Hungary has deteriorated during this period because of Viktor Orbán’s “deliberate and systematic efforts by the government”.
Among the main concerns for MEPs are the functioning of the constitutional and electoral system, the independence of the judiciary, corruption and conflicts of interest, and freedom of expression, including news pluralism.
They also warn of threats to academic freedom, religion and association, the right to equal treatment, including the rights of LGBTIQ people, the rights of minorities and the situation of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees.
For example, the plenary in Strasbourg (France) discredits the lack of measures of the twenty-seven, to whom it emphasizes that they can make progress in the Article 7 procedure without the need for unanimity, since that level of consensus is only necessary to decide on possible sanctions at the end of the rule of law analysis by that mechanism.
They also argue that Budapest’s anti-democratic drift affects their access to European funds, for example by excluding cohesion programs from funding that contribute to misuse of EU funds or violations of the rule of law.
Also, according to MEPs, Hungary’s recovery plan should not be approved until the country fully complies with all the recommendations of the European Semester and implements all relevant judgments of the Court of Justice of the EU and the Court of Human Rights .
Hungary’s response has come through the mouth of government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs, who has urged the European Parliament to “focus” on the rise in energy prices as a result of the “failed sanctions” against Russia. “Sanctions are making Europeans poorer and Russia making huge profits,” Kovacs said on Twitter. “When Brussels approved the sanctions, this was not what it promised the European people,” he added.
Just this Sunday, the European Commission plans to adopt a proposal to freeze “billions of euros” in cohesion funds for Hungary over the risk that Orbán’s government will use them in programs that threaten the rule of law in the country. sources have indicated.
The draft proposal to which Europa Press had access, prepared last July by Budget Commissioner Johannes Hahn, estimated that, given the seriousness of the threat, about 70% of three Community programs should be blocked, including one from Energy . Although the Community Directorate’s document did not include a figure on the value of the funds that could be suspended, the Hungarian press estimates their value at around EUR 8,800 million.
However, community sources warn that the percentage Brussels ultimately proposes to freeze will be lower than the percentage envisaged in the draft, in response to reforms that Budapest has promised in the latest contacts with community services, including measures to fight corruption. to reinforce. .
In any case, the last word will be given to the twenty-seven who, once the proposal to be adopted by the College of Commissioners is received, will have one month to make a decision, although the deadline may be extended to three months , so the action won’t be instantaneous.
Source: La Verdad
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