The EU ramped up financial pressure on Hungary just as it needs the country’s support to extend sanctions on Russia
The European Union ramped up financial pressure on Hungary’s nationalist prime minister just as it needs his support to extend sanctions on Russia over itsThe European Commission on Sunday proposed freezing €7.5 billion, equivalent to $7.51 billion, in EU payments for Hungary, saying the country’s weak democratic institutions could no longer safeguard those funds from corruption, deepening athe EU’s parliament claimed last week was an “electoral autocracy.
“Today’s decision is a clear demonstration of the Commission’s resolve to protect the EU budget,” said EU budget commissioner Johannes Hahn at a press conference. “We are very confident that at the end of the day, we will see significant reforms in Hungary, which indeed will be a game-changer.” The sum represents about 4% of Hungary’s total economy, though only about a fifth of the full 2021-27 budget financing the EU provides the country, including other forms of agricultural and budgetary aid.
In a statement issued Friday in anticipation of the commission’s proposal, Hungarian Justice Minister Judit Varga said that her government was in talks with both the commission and France to resolve the anticorruption concerns. In its announcement Sunday, following a special meeting of EU commissioners in the morning, Mr. Hahn said he would recommend for member states to use the maximum time possible—as much as three months—before making a final decision on the funds. He said the reforms that Hungary has promised will take time to legislate on and implement.
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