The European Union will freeze funding for members damaging democracy, the club's chief executive said in her annual policy speech on Wednesday, as European lawmakers denounced Hungary where billions are at stake.
The EU's executive has until next Wednesday to propose cutting funds for Hungary over its public procurement laws that Brussels has long criticised as feeding corruption.
But the Commission has been cautious. Distrust runs high in the EU after years of acrimonious feuds with Orban over the rights of migrants, gays and women, as well as the freedom of media, academics and courts. "I would like to focus on corruption, with all its faces," she said, without naming Hungary specifically.A Commission document dating back to July showed it preparing to recommend cutting some funds for Hungary from the bloc's 2021-27 budget worth a total of 1.1 trillion euros in what would be the first such case.
Hungary had by far the highest share of irregularities in the whole bloc in spending EU funds in 2015-19, according to the EU anti-fraud agency. Brussels has called for transparency, real competition and accountability in Hungarian public procurement.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Australian tollway firm agrees to buy majority stake in Chicago Skyway for $2 billionAtlas Arteria, an Australian toll road company, has agreed to buy a 67% stake in the Chicago Skyway for $2 billion
Read more »
Saskatoon Public Schools uses provincial cash to ease some deficit measuresBoard chair says Saskatoon Public\u0027s slice of provincial inflation money not enough to offset all cuts previously announced in face of $4.5 million deficit.
Read more »
Foreign fraudsters broke feds’ firewall to steal billions in pandemic loans: AuditForeign criminal syndicates are estimated to have stolen tens of billions of dollars in pandemic relief money, and a new inspector general’s report is shedding light on how some of that happened.
Read more »
A $63 million opioid-lawsuit settlement will help Delaware County’s addiction services, Shapiro saysThe money, which will paid over 18 years, is part of a $1 billion settlement won for Pennsylvania in a lawsuit against three pharmaceutical distributors.
Read more »
IRS refunding $1.2B in late-filing penalties, here's how to collect the moneyThe IRS is paying out $1.2 billion in late-filing refunds and credits to more than 1 million taxpayers, but there are just a few weeks left to collect the money.
Read more »