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Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán remains stubborn in the budget dispute with the European Union (EU). Together with Poland, Hungary will maintain the veto, Orbán announced on state radio. For almost three weeks, both countries have been blocking the EU’s trillion budget; this can only be approved unanimously by the 27 EU member states.
Orbán and his Polish colleague Mateusz Morawiecki come across a new clause that applies to the budget. Consequently, EU recipient countries can reduce funding in the event of certain violations of the rule of law. With his No, the entire budget package of € 1.8 trillion is locked in for the next seven years for now. That includes € 750 billion in aid from the crown, which many EU countries urgently need.
Prime Minister Orbán said his country could not yet accept a link between the budget and the rule of law. “Hungary insists that these two things must be separated.” On Thursday, Poland had shown its willingness to waive the veto if the EU made a statement on the rule of law. Orbán also rejects it.
The EU Commission is examining alternative aid funds
The clause deals with the rule of law, such as the independence of the judiciary and the media. Hungary and Poland have been criticized for years for their relations with the judiciary and the media. They should also receive funds from the Corona relief fund.
Meanwhile, the EU Commission is examining specific models for starting the multi-billion dollar Corona development fund without the two countries. This was confirmed by EU circles in Brussels on Thursday night.
Poland and Hungary could leave empty-handed
The “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” reported that the preferred model is based on the new short-term work aid SURE. Therefore, the Corona fund could be secured by voluntary guarantees from EU countries instead of the EU budget. Blockers Poland and Hungary would leave empty-handed: Poland would lose 23.1 billion euros, Hungary 6.2 billion in subsidies.
Under this model, money could flow as fast as expected, the “FAZ” wrote. However, the committee said that a decision on a particular path had not yet been made.
