Many EU lawmakers accuse the European Commission of giving in to “blackmail” by Budapest. Brussels released billions to Hungary, but concerns over democratic backsliding and the country’s ties with Russia remain.
Billions of euros in once-frozen European Union funds are flowing to Hungary again after the European Commission said the central European state satisfactorily reformed its judicial system.
Though billions more remain blocked over alleged violations of LGBTQ and migrant rights, plus concerns about academic freedom. many EU lawmakers are furious over last month’s funding release and have threatened legal action against the EU’s executive.
The timing of the European Commission’s move raised eyebrows, just before a crucial summit as EU states sought to get Budapest on board with plans to open membership talks with Ukraine and offer the country long-term financial aid.
Hungary eventually got out of the way of progress on Kyiv’s membership aspirations by leaving the room when the issue came to a vote, but Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government continues to block the agreement on long-term aid.
The Commission insisted the move was not part of a quid pro quo deal. We had a deadline to meet, and this is unrelated to any other discussions or developments,” European Commission spokesperson Christian Wigand told DW. “What we are doing is applying the rule of law. Hungary has fulfilled the legal conditions, and therefore, we unblocked the funds concerned.
“We had to assess the progress, and there were strict deadlines for every step, and this is what we have done. We have asked questions in a lot of detail to Hungary to make sure the reforms were really what we needed.
In a debate with EU lawmakers on Wednesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said around €20 billion ($21.7 billion) in EU funds remain out of Budapest’s reach. Hungary called this unjust and claimed it was the victim of a political “witch hunt.
