EP votes to recommend freezing Hungary funding — UPDATED
The European Parliament has proposed freezing European Union funding, saying that the 17 measures taken by Hungary aimed at unlocking its EU funding were not sufficient to offset the systemic risks to the bloc’s finances.
In a resolution adopted on Thursday with 416 votes in favour, 124 against and 33 abstentions, MEPs called on the EC and the European Council to “resist pressure from Hungary and go ahead with adopting the proposed rule-of-law conditionality measures to suspend EU cohesion funds.”
The measures should be lifted only “only after the Hungarian remedial measures have had a sustainable effect,” a statement on the EP website said.
Regarding Hungary’s recovery and resilience plan to access the funds set up to counter the fallout of the coronavirus epidemic, MEPs said “they deplore that, because of the government’s actions, recovery funds have not yet reached the Hungarian people,” the statement said.
The risk that further funds would be misused remained, the statement said. “[The] Commission should not approve Hungary’s [recovery] plan until the country has fully complied with all recommendations in the field of the rule of law and all relevant judgments of the EU Court and the Court of Human Rights,” it added.
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The statement said Hungary was “exerting pressure” on EU bodies by blocking decisions such as aid for Ukraine and the introduction of a global corporate tax, and called on the EC and the European Council not to cave in to it.
“This abuse of the rule on voting by unanimity should not have any impact on the decisions regarding the Hungarian recovery plan and the application of the rule of law conditionality legislation,” the resolution said.
At the same time, beneficiaries of the funding should not be deprived of the means due to their government’s non-compliance, it said.
The EP protested that the proposal to trigger the conditionality procedure against Hungary had long been overdue and did not go far enough. Also, it urged the commission to take action in connection with other breaches of the rule of law, particularly those relating to the independence of the judiciary, the statement said.
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In a statement, the Fidesz European parliamentary group said Hungarian left-wing MEPs did not want Hungary to receive EU funds. Fidesz’s MEPs, by contrast, had represented the interests of the Hungarian public by dismissing the text “condemning Hungary and Hungarians” which Hungarian left-wing opposition MEPs had “shamefully supported”.
Tamás Deutsch, the group’s head, said that what was a stake was “EU money that is rightfully ours”, and he declared the vote had been an act of “political punishment”. Without the EU funds, teachers would not receive pay rises and municipalities, small and medium-sized firms, hospitals, transport, environmental protection and energy investments would all suffer as a result, too, he added.
Hungarian opposition MEP István Ujhelyi said in a statement that the Fidesz government and the homeland were not synonymous and “Hungary is not equatable to the Orbán regime”. The Fidesz government would bear sole responsibility were Hungary to lose a single cent of EU funding, he said, adding that in a democratic rule-governed state Viktor Orbán and his government “would resign today”.
Source: MTI
BEAMING Light Show – needing Eye Wear to prevent damaging our Eyes, this latest decision from the European Union, it’s CATACLYSMIC effects on Hungary.
THOSE in Hungarian Society, who thought it of no relevance nor IMPACT on Hungary in the present “hardship” times and into the Future, blatantly ignorant and demonstrated totally – there lack of knowledge of Economic or Financial understanding.
We KNOW this ARROGANCE of attitude – has been MASSIVELY used driven through the Fidesz Political Party – the PROPAGANDA Machine – under its Leader and present “under seige” Prime Minister – Victor Orban.
History never Lies and will show, that this period of time in Hungary – the question of European Union Membership the SHAMBOLIC situation, bought on by the Prime Minister – Victor Orban and history will PROVE through his name the DESTRUCTION & Choas – he EFFECTED, through his attitude to-wards the Family of European Countries.
This platform, through commentary, has been used through DNH on numerous occasions in the past 12 months, that the ask on Hungary, under the Fidesz Party its Leader and present “under seize” Prime Minister of Hungary – Victor Orban, described rightfully by the European Union and mass numbers of “other” global countries, as a dictator, the ASK of this present Government to come back in line with the Laws of Membership of the European Union, that ALL funding had been CEASED by the European Union, through breaches of membership Laws, that ask on Fidesz – the Government led by Victor Orban – was NEVER possible to HAPPEN.
The catechism of the Word, the political ideas & philosophies of the CREED of the Fidesz Party – the creation writing and practicing by Victor Orban, what had RIGHTFULLY been asked of Hungary, by the European Union, was that the CREED of Membership in being a member practicing participating under the Fidesz “Dogma” – would NEED a complete re-write by Victor Orban in line of similarity what Martin Luther did to the Bible.
The DEMANDS on Victor Orban – Fidesz just IMPOSSIBLE to re-write what their CREED was and remains, that absolutely ruptures and separates causing destruction – in a HOPE of DESTROYING Democracy.
Hungary – which is the WAY?
Hungary – the Nadir of our on-going trend of Destruction, the collapse of our Economy – all the componentry of DISASTERS in the Financial & Economic categories – Inflation, Cost of Living, Interest Rates – all Doom & Gloom.
Hungary – the HORRENDOUS state and condition of Education in Hungary, the failings on-going of promises from this Orban Government to pass on to Educators pay rises – won’t HAPPEN because there is No Money in this Government.
Hungary – which is the Way?
Hungary – the FUTURE – which is the WAY?
So let’s sit back and wait to see who the government blames for this decision.
“Blah, blah, blah,……… it’s not our fault”. The rhetoric and propaganda will be on overdrive.
We hold the government to account, they are responsible for this outcome.
Dismiss, distort, distract, dismay
The forint will get smashed again.
Inflation up again.
Nothing in our lives is going to get easier or cheaper.
Interest rates will go up again.
Hope growing millions of us our district getting hammered with price rises, crank up complaining objecting to the mess we are in and looks like getting worse.
“In a statement, the Fidesz European parliamentary group said Hungarian left-wing MEPs did not want Hungary to receive EU funds”.
That is a twisted statement from a government which refuses to acknowledge and accept responsibility that their own actions resulted in this decision. Desperate to point the finger elsewhere. The opposition isn’t the problem, Fidesz is the party that has been in power for 12 years. One wonders if this is the beginning of the end for Orban and his cronies. There’s only so much people will believe. We are suffering because of this government, for the lies they have told.
Well done, EP.
Time for Hungarian Ministers to figure out a budget without relying on or needing EU money. Hungary existed without the EU for years. The EU put a target on Hungary at the time Hungary closed its southern border. Why fight it, LEAVE.
The people chose by a wide margin FIDESZ, against the chagrin of the sour grapes leftwing that demanded that Hungary not get a single Euro. Now that Hungary is not getting the money the left demanded it should not get, is now Orbán’s fault? Orbán asked for the money!
The left – Orbán’s opposition – and the EU are responsible for the results of their acting in BAD FAITH.
The facts are these. The EU never intended to give Hungary the money because the Hungarian people voted for the people Hungarians chose.
The EU didn’t like the results of the democratic election. They wanted different, undemocratic results.
Theirs.
Inflation is global. The Hungarian government and central banks can do little, if anything.
The EU and Joe Biden with sanctions caused the inflation under which the Hungarian People suffer.
In other words, the Hungarian government in good faith acted to protect the people by not joining the sanctions regime of the EU.
It is blackmail, coercion. The EU’s behavior is Acting in BAD FAITH AFTER Hungary’s government had already bent backwards and through its democratic parliament established numerous laws in compliance with the EU’s demands. In other words, the EU acted in BAD FAITH, plain and simple and they are punishing ALL the Hungarian people.
OBAMA-BIDEN-EU, STOP PUNISHING HUNGARY AND ISRAEL!
https://andrewgbenjamin.substack.com/p/obama-biden-european-union-stop-bullying
ARCHIVES: https://andrewgbenjamin.substack.com/archive
@mariaVT , please let Hungary leave EU but bear in mind how was Hungary before 2004…
@FV
Yes, it was without new extra-large Soccer Stadiums. I think the people could have put that on hold for a while and paid it off themselves soon after. EU was a co-ersive attempt to take over a republic like Hungary and turn it into a worthless piece of rubble like the Ukraine today. Their plan is going well as all the EU can do is cheat as its paid off by certain Philanthropist bent on making a Out-house out of Europe.
FV – you are being “Respectfully” informed, that Mariavontheresa left the lands of Hungary some years past.
The DNA may be Hungarian, but lands chosen the place of residency ADOPTED is Noth America/Canada.
Mariavontheresa – remains a fully paid-up member of the Fidesz Political Party and has a “Gilt” edged framed print of Victor Orban, hanging displayed in the place of her residency.
@Burt
could be, we do not have a time machine. However you need money to pay the stadiums and infrastructures, local wealth is generally generated by large scale economy or richness in raw materials. I’m not sure but I believe Hungary is neither exporter of energy neither of metals. so, being out of the EU it would have been less competitive towards countries where “free circulation of people, goods and capitals” are granted rights.