Opposition MEP accuses Orbán government of neglecting EU funding, warns of potential losses exceeding EUR 2.5 billion
The government has neglected to secure EU funding for Hungary for almost two years by now, Democratic Coalition (DK) MEP Klára Dobrev told an online press briefing on Tuesday, noting she has written to EU budget commissioner Johannes Hahn to ask “what the Orban government” had and hadn’t done to make sure Hungarians “receive the money they are entitled to”.
Quoting a European Commission report, she said Hungary had failed to fulfil the 27 “milestones” it had previously committed to, “so not a single payment request can be paid out right now”.
Hungary, she added, was at risk of losing about HUF 400 billion in 64 days’ time should Prime Minister Viktor Orbán “continue to play the role of the EU’s tantrum child”.
And if it is unwilling to fulfill the milestones next year, Hungary may be deprived of another HUF 400 billion (EUR 1 billion), she said. In 2026, lost funds could amount to HUF 1,000 billion (EUR 2.5 billion) as reconstruction money may also be imperilled, Dobrev insisted.
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Magyar, you and the EU can go to the devil. This statement shows that Magyar is ready to surrender Hungarian sovereignty to Brussels.
I dislike her husband, but there’s no denying she’s right. Say what you want about her but she’s a consummate orator and the only voice of social democratic politics in Hungary today.
What’s at stake here is potentially earth shattering, the sorts of sums of money that could be transformative for Hungary, as EU funds have been in recent past. It’s one thing if the funds never arrive and Hungary has to muddle through on its own, an arguably bigger issue is the fact that these funds have been arriving and will continue to arrive in Hungary’s neighbours who are the country’s direct competitors. Used wisely, they will serve to improve infrastructure, public health, productivity, R&D, reducing outbound migration due to rising living standards thus addressing labour shortages, really, it’s a slew of things and all areas where Hungary is lagging. Competitor nations will steal a march in the race to develop while Hungary will be left behind, eventually becoming seen as antiquated and dilapidated like many Balkan states today. If all you have to offer is cheap labour there’s a finite pool of investment you can attract and the world isn’t short of countries with cheap labour, so you end up assembling stuff that’s expensive to transport from further afield while employing people in low skilled, low paid work due to the low value added. If a city is likewise dilapidated with a poor population that doesn’t have disposable income to spend on quality shopping, dining and entertainment (and Budapest is heading that way) all you can attract are budget tourists who coo at the views and want to drink cheap beer. Who wants to spend 500 Euros on a hotel room to visit a developing world city? If there’s no money to even maintain what you’ve got, in 10 years from now that’s easily where Budapest could end up as the ravages of time eat away at the fabric of the city and unwinds the good work done thus far.
Londonsteve – Concur.
Fact’s just keep PILLING up, the FAILINGS of Economic and Financial Management of this Orban led – Fidesz Government of Hungary.
Hungary – with a Finance Minister – Mihaly Varga “judged” rightly of no competency, that EXPLODES in opinion out of Brussels, in this 6 months of Hungarian Presidency, the name Varga, with Orban are the PAIR – who are of MAJOR blame for the on-going COLLAPSE of Hungary.
It WILL worsen.