EU Commission unlocks €10 billion for Hungary, Guardian reports
Victor Orban (Photo: Getty Images)
The European Commission today, on December 13, decided to unfreeze 10 billion euros for Hungary, roughly a third of the amount blocked due to a series of rule-of-law issues in the country. Prior to this, there was information about the refusal to unfreeze such a tranche for Budapest, reports The Guardian.
The European Commission today, on December 13, decided to unfreeze 10 billion euros for Hungary, roughly a third of the amount blocked due to a series of rule-of-law issues in the country. Prior to this, there was information about the refusal to unfreeze such a tranche for Budapest.
The Commission claimed that Hungary had made several judicial system reforms and therefore deserves access to part of the funding.
"After a thorough assessment, and several exchanges with the Hungarian government, the Commission considers that Hungary has taken the measures it committed to take in order for the Commission to consider that the horizontal enabling condition on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights is fulfilled in what concerns judicial independence," the EC statement said.
Thus, a portion of the funding for the Cohesion Policy will no longer be blocked, allowing Budapest to claim approximately 10.2 billion euros in compensation.
Hungary's regional development minister, Tibor Navracsics, commented on the EC's decision in a conversation with journalists, stating that the country's government "fulfilled all the conditions, so we are very confident that EU funds will now come."
Criticism of the European Commission's decision
However, it is noted that this decision has faced considerable criticism from Members of the European Parliament.
Representatives of the Civil Society Group of Hungary, which monitors the independence of the judiciary, stated that the country's government does not fully comply with the criteria.
A group of four political groups in the European Parliament, including the center-right European People's Party and the Socialists and Democrats, also expressed concern in today's letter to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Critics of the Commission's decision suggest that the unlocking of funds might be hasty and link it to attempts to persuade Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to lift the blockage of key decisions related to Ukraine, which leaders planned to adopt at the summit on December 14-15.
"By releasing €10bn to Orbán, von der Leyen is making the biggest mistake of her time in office," expressed German MEP Daniel Freund.
Earlier today, Reuters reported that the European Commission refused to unfreeze 10 billion euros for Hungary, awaiting Budapest's final step.
European Union summit and Hungary's position
On December 14-15, at the EU leaders' summit, a four-year aid package for Ukraine worth 50 billion euros is expected to be approved, as well as the start of accession negotiations.
Hungary is ready to lift its veto on the EU's proposal for financing Ukraine in exchange for billions of dollars that the block denies Budapest due to democratic backsliding and widespread corruption.
However, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, as before, opposes the start of negotiations on Ukraine's membership in the EU.
It is worth mentioning that ahead of the summit, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged the EU to support Ukraine as much as needed and to begin negotiations on Ukraine's membership in the European Union.
