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The EU’s financial aid against the Crown crisis is subject to conditions: the money is only awarded to those who adhere to the rule of law. Therefore, Poland and Hungary block the package. However, now they could go home empty-handed.
In the event of another blockade by Hungary and Poland against the EU financial package, the EU is considering a path without the two Eastern European countries. “We need approval from Hungary and Poland today or tomorrow at the latest,” an EU diplomat told Reuters on Monday. “Otherwise, we will have to switch to stage B.” The other 25 EU countries want to organize the 750 billion crown reconstruction package as an intergovernmental contract.
Poland and Hungary, which are among the largest recipients of EU budget payments, received nothing and could no longer block a decision. Representatives from both countries said Monday they would maintain their veto.
The blockade hurts Poland and Hungary enormously
The trigger for the dispute is the refusal of the two national conservative governments to combine the financial package of 1.8 trillion from the crown fund and the EU budget until 2027 with the principles of the rule of law. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó declared after a meeting with his Polish counterpart in Brussels that the alliance between the two countries on this issue was maintained. “We will not give in to efforts to end this cooperation,” Szijjártó said in a video on Facebook. Poland’s Deputy Foreign Minister Paweł Jabłoński stressed on Polish radio that his country will also remain in its position.
With their veto, Poland and Hungary can block the entry into force of the normal EU budget from 2021. The EU would then continue to work with an emergency budget, but could no longer decide on new projects. This would also particularly harm Poland and Hungary as host countries.
The issue will also be discussed at the EU summit on December 10-11 if a solution has not been found by then. The German Presidency of the Council of the EU was particularly committed to finding a solution.
