European Commission’s big decision this morning: will Hungary get EUR 15.8 bn?

The European Commission will reveal their decision today at 10.30 AM about the budget conditionality procedure in which at least EUR 15.8 billion is at stake. Johannes Hahn, the European Commissioner for Budget and Administration, is expected to announce what the EC agreed on.

Hungary’s budget, Hungarian forint might get a boost today

According to hvg.hu, the Sunday session of the College of Commissioners, comprised of the 27 commissioners, will start at 9.30 AM. The Hungarian media outlet says that chances are meagre to end the budget conditionality procedure. In that case, Budapest could receive the billions of euros from the recovery and resilience fund (RRF). Based on a July letter, the sum is “only” 8.4 billion euros.

However, later another EC letter was leaked, saying it might reach 15.8 billion euros. Paying that sum was ceased because of fears of corruption in Hungary. It will remain frozen until the budget conditionality procedure ends. Even though the Hungarian government desperately needs that financial support.

Importantly, the European Commission will only draft a proposal for the member states. However, accepting that does not need a unanimous decision, only simple majority, hvg.hu clears.

• Read also: Brutal: Hungary may lose up to 70 percent of EU funding

The government did everything, they believe

Gergely Gulyás, the prime minister’s chief of staff, said yesterday that Hungary had been conducting intensive negotiations with the European Commission on the conditionality mechanism which links European Union funding to the rule of law over several months, and there are no more unresolved issues. The government has accepted several of the EC’s recommendations, Gulyás said, adding that the two sides had compromised on the proposals Hungary could not accept, MTI wrote.

The cabinet discussed and approved these proposals at its Saturday meeting and will submit them to parliament next Monday and Friday, Gulyás said. The laws in question will enter into force in November, paving the way for the end of the conditionality procedure, he said.

Read alsoLeaked speech: Orbán said when Hungary should consider leaving the EU

The series of talks held between Hungary and the commission over the last two months can be considered “a step from mutual distrust towards mutual trust”, Gulyás said. The EC will make a statement on the matter on Sunday, he said, adding that part of the agreement was that Hungary must implement the commitments it has made to the commission. He urged lawmakers to approve the proposals so that the conditionality procedure could be concluded.

Source: hvg.hu, MTI