Hungary and Poland are going their separate ways on Ukrainian policy, as Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki stated about two months ago. But in the fight against cuts in EU funds, both Member States can count on each other. It is therefore unlikely that the European Commission will cut payments of around €7.5 billion from the EU budget to Hungary due to corruption and other rule of law violations.
Morawiecki made it clear on Sunday that his country would “do everything it can to oppose any plan by the European institutions to withhold money from a member state in an absolutely inadmissible way”. The Polish head of government also pointed out that the government in Budapest had already presented “a draft agreement”. Specifically, the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban has announced in recent weeks that it will set up a new agency to fight corruption. The handling of EU funds also needs to be made more transparent and monitored more closely. The share of public procurement with only one tenderer should be reduced and cooperation with the EU anti-fraud authority Olaf should be strengthened. Hungary plans to inform the European Commission about the implementation of the measures by 19 November. Budapest plans to introduce the first law into parliament this week.
Karas: “The rule of law mechanism works”
However, Hungarian anti-corruption activists warn that the Orban government could cheat Brussels. Austria’s reactions to the European Commission’s proposal varied. “The rule of law mechanism works! It is good that the Commission is now taking consistent action,” emphasized the First Vice-President of the EU Parliament, Othmar Karas (ÖVP). “The time for games is over. Europe moves together for freedom and democracy. The Hungarian leadership must also enable its citizens to have a liberal democracy,” tweeted MEP Lukas Mandl (ÖVP).
The NEOS also welcomes the initiative of the European Commission. “This is a very important signal from the Commission,” tweeted MEP Claudia Gamon. “As the EU, we must be united and determined to stand up for the rule of law and democracy.” Free EU spokeswoman, National Council member Petra Steger, described the EU commission’s initiative as “baseless and outrageous”. “This way of dealing with Hungary is outrageous and an insult to a paying member state of the European Union, which can really only be described as a ‘mess’,” Steger said.
Budapest: “will deliver on commitments”
Hungary’s chief negotiator Tibor Navracsics said at a press conference in Budapest on Sunday that the impending cuts will not come. “We have made no commitments to confuse the European Commission.” The Hungarian government would not consider breaking the commitments it had made.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
