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rehe European ministers were the first representatives of the member states on Tuesday to face the new crisis caused by the budget blockade in Hungary and Poland. On Monday, both states, among the EU ambassadors, impeded the decision-making process on the EU budget for the next seven years and the Corona aid fund. A new mechanism that combines common fund money with the rule of law is going too far for them. “This is not the time for vetoes, but for swift action in a spirit of solidarity,” said Michael Roth, as Minister of State for Europe at the Foreign Office and President of the Council. “Our peoples would pay a very high price for a blockade.”
Thomas gutschker
Political correspondent for the European Union, NATO and Benelux countries based in Brussels.
The discussion about this took place in the public part of the meeting and conveyed an initial picture of the mood. Overall, there was a lot of support for the compromise that Germany had negotiated with the European Parliament on the amount of funds and the rule of law. Faced with the Corona crisis, a “sense of community” developed, said the Italian representative; “The more frustrated we are now.” He recalled how much the second corona wave was wreaking havoc in Europe. A delay would have “serious effects on the economy and society.” You couldn’t explain that to the citizens. The Spanish minister Pablo García-Berdoy expressed himself in a very similar way: “Whoever blocks, has to bear the great responsibility of it, towards all Europeans.
Criticism of the “frugal states”
Representatives of the so-called “frugal states” also spoke. Denmark, for example, noted that the rule of law mechanism was an “integral part” of the July agreement between heads of government that could not now be separated. Hungary and Poland denied this, again asserting that at that time it had been agreed that sanctions could only be decided unanimously, which, however, is not covered by the conclusions. Hungarian Justice Minister Judit Varga said the compromise eluded the treaties. An instrument is being created arbitrarily, which is only directed against Hungary anyway.
The Polish representative was also negative, but his tone was much more subdued. He only insisted on more guarantees that generate legal security. State Minister Roth admitted that there would definitely be “considerable delays” in the disbursement of funds. He will “work very hard” to find a solution as quickly as possible. Many actors in Brussels are firmly convinced that the compromise negotiated with Parliament on the rule of law can no longer be opened.
Several MPs who had negotiated this categorically ruled it out. But there would also be considerable resistance among the states, especially from the Dutch. The Hague had called for a strict rule of law mechanism and otherwise threatened a veto.
Trade in horses with the article 7 procedure?
Of course, states could meet Hungary and Poland elsewhere. When heads of government negotiated the 1.8 trillion euro financial package in July, Hungarian Viktor Orbán demanded an end to the Article 7 procedure to review the rule of law against his country. Poland is demanding that for itself as well. At the time, Chancellor Angela Merkel cautiously said that the conditions for this were not yet in place. But the Council has long lacked the majority necessary to convict Hungary of violating the rule of law, or even to establish that this risk exists. The eastern states are unwilling to do that for different reasons.
That is why the presidencies, including the German one, have abstained from such a vote. So they were able to hold regular hearings on the situation in both countries, which at least left Budapest and Warsaw on the bench. But the situation is everywhere described as unsatisfactory. Therefore, the European Parliament has especially fought to link the budget with the rule of law. Because that should be the sharpest sword to put both countries in their place. But would MEPs Budapest and Warsaw allow the symbolic triumph? And, conversely, would it be enough for Orbán to surrender?
These issues are now being discussed at the higher levels of the institutions. It seems clear that heads of state and government have to address the issue themselves. They want to discuss how to deal with the Corona crisis in a video conference Thursday night anyway. Now the financial blockade should come into focus.
