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Both countries, which Brussels accuses of destroying democratic reforms, oppose the EU’s plans to tie funding to the rule of law.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawieckis said the European oligarchy was trying to intimidate weaker EU members, while Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban called conditional funding a form of blackmail from anti-immigrant member states.
However, the European Parliament said it would make “no further concessions” and France warned there could be another way forward.
Speaking in Warsaw, Morawieckis warned that setting new conditions for funding could ultimately lead to the “collapse of the EU.”
“This is a turning point in the history of the EU. Decisions based on arbitrary regulatory conditions could lead to its collapse,” he said.
The conservative Morawiecki government has pushed through a series of controversial judicial reforms, and the EU has expressed concern that they are undermining the rule of law.
In Hungary, Mr. Orban is categorically opposed to resettlement plans for refugees arriving in other parts of the continent, notably Italy and Greece.
Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša, Orban’s close ally on migration, joined the dispute on Wednesday, saying that the EU institutions “should not be involved in conflicts in the internal politics of member states.”
However, other Central and Eastern European countries, including the Czech Republic, Romania and Slovakia, did not support the Polish-Hungarian veto.
A possible compromise?
Orban’s statement said that Hungary had used its veto because, in its view, the rule of law clause amounted to “blackmailing” countries that did not support migration.
“Today in Brussels, they consider that the rule of law is only countries that admit migrants,” Orban said. “In our opinion, linking economic and financial issues to the political debate would be a big mistake that would undermine European unity.”
However, Orban also hinted at a possible compromise proposal, saying the deal should include a clear definition of the rule of law and a mechanism for parties to appeal sanctions.
“Without objective criteria and the possibility of legal recourse, no procedure should sanction member states on that basis,” he said.
“He cannot be taken hostage”
EU leaders said the four-day meeting in July resolved a dispute over the bloc’s seven-year budget and associated recovery plan.
Subsequently, they also resolved disagreements with the European Parliament on spending priorities and a budget of € 1 trillion and € 750 billion. The euro recovery package has been prepared for approval.
However, Poland and Hungary did not agree to link their future funding to Brussels’ assessment of their compliance with EU law.
The veto caused outrage in Brussels, and senior European diplomats said the issue of consent by other countries to relax the rule of law was not being questioned.
French European Affairs Minister Clement Beaune said the EU was considering “practical solutions” to break the stalemate on the EU budget and recovery plan for the coronavirus-hit economy, but could adopt them despite objections. from Hungary, Poland and Slovenia.
“We are looking at how, as a last resort, we could proceed without blocking countries [susitarimą], “He said.
According to Beaune, EU officials will study the possibility of “clarifying” the rule of law, “but they certainly will not question it, because our values and our European project are at stake.”
“Europe cannot be held hostage by various governments that do not want to advance and do not respect the foundations of our political project,” the French minister warned.
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