Budapest is betting on the war in Ukraine to avoid a conflict with the European Union over the rule of law in Hungary, arguing that the Union should avoid division at a time when war is raging at its door.
“In these difficult times we must show solidarity,” said Hungarian Justice Minister Judith Varga at a ministerial meeting in Luxembourg. “We have to focus on the issues that unite us rather than on what creates divisions.”
The minister even used the recent “overwhelming” election victory of Viktor Orban, an ally of Vladimir Putin, saying that Hungarian voters “do not share the concerns” of the European Union.
These concerns, contained in the European Commission’s latest report on the rule of law in Hungary, concern the deterioration of pluralism in the Hungarian media, as well as the inadequate treatment of corruption.
On the contrary, European Justice Commissioner Didier Render stressed that the Russian invasion of Ukraine highlights the need to “pay close attention to the rule of law and the rules within the EU”.
As part of the review of the situation in the countries of the Union, the Ministers of European Affairs will discuss the issue of respect for democratic principles by Hungary and four other members of the Union.
In Hungary, problems in the area of project assignments, conflicts of interest and corruption have led Commission President Ursula von der Layen to announce on 5 April the start of a process that could lead to the suspension of European funding for the EU.
According to a European source, an official letter will be sent to the Hungarian government in late April.
The conditionality mechanism has been in force since January 2021, but to date has not been used. It allows the cessation of funding with European resources of a Member State where violations of the rule of law are found that affect the management of funds. The mechanism may take six to nine months to implement and the final decision must be taken by a qualified majority of at least 15 of the 27 Member States representing 65% of the Union’s population.
Corruption is also the reason why the Commission has blocked the payment of 7.2 billion euros of the recovery plan in Budapest.
SOURCE: AMPE
Source: Capital
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
