Because of possible violations of the rule of law in Hungary the EU Commission in Brussels has now officially initiated proceedings to cut EU funds against the country. The corresponding letter will be sent to Budapest on Wednesday, wrote EU Commission Vice Vera Jourova on Twitter. Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen announced the move earlier this month.
until Hungary However, it will still take time before money is actually cut from the EU budget. Ultimately, this would also require the approval of at least 15 EU countries with at least 65 percent of the EU population.
Violations of the rule of law should not go unpunished
The so-called EU rule of law mechanism has been in force since the beginning of 2021. Its purpose is to ensure that violations of the rule of law, such as the separation of powers, no longer go unpunished. Crucially, however, the violations threaten to misuse EU funds. Poland and Hungary see themselves particularly in the focus of the instrument and had appealed to the European Court of Justice. However, he dismissed the lawsuits in February. Both states get billions from the common budget every year.
First of all, Budapest can now comment on the allegations and, if necessary, propose remedial measures. The EU Commission will then take this into account when deciding whether it will actually propose to the EU states Hungary cut EU funds.
The First Vice President of the EU Parliament, Othmar Karas, (ÖVP) described the step as overdue. “It doesn’t work without the rule of law. EU funds must not be allowed to seep away in dark channels and in nepotism. #Orban must give in now,” he wrote on Twitter. His party friend, the Upper Austrian MEP Angelika Winzig, also praised the move.
The SPÖ MEP Bettina Vollath made a similar statement: “The EU Parliament has been demanding more consistent action by the EU Commission for years, we have lost far too much time. It will be difficult enough to repair the lasting damage, a clear reaction is all the more necessary. Democracy, separation of powers, freedom of the media and science are not optional in the EU, but the contractual basis.”
The Greens called for a consistent approach Hungary. “As a neighboring country with close economic ties, Austria is particularly affected by the decline in the rule of law in Austria Hungary. The Commission represents Austria’s interests here and should act as consistently as possible,” said Europe spokesman Michel Reimon in a broadcast. “Violators of the rule of law like Viktor Orbán will finally face consequences for their actions. This is a step that is long overdue in Europe.”
Source: Nachrichten
