Hungarian government attacks EU where it hurts most
The European Parliament and EU Council negotiators have finalised the 2024 budget. But several countries, including the Hungarian government, are trying to block it.
The EU has reached an agreement
On Friday, the European Parliament and the European Council agreed on a common budget for 2024. That means a blueprint is now in place for what the union of states can commit to, under the supervision of the European Commission. The negotiations finally ended in a compromise. The final amount is EUR 189.4 billion, up from EUR 187 billion originally wanted by member states.
The European Parliament earmarked EUR 60 million for Erasmus+, EUR 85 million for Horizon Europe research and EUR 150 million for the neighbourhood and enlargement policy. The agreement also addressed the humanitarian needs arising from the conflict in Gaza, with EUR 250 million earmarked.
Under the agreement, many of the objectives will receive less spending, which many Member States did not like. A EUR 66 billion supplement for migration management, technology development and crisis management, as well as a EUR 50 billion aid package for Ukraine, were also discussed.
Hungary among the critical voices
Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden, which are generally pro-austerity, also oppose the budget, but Hungary is the most vocal. The Hungarian government has publicly communicated that it will not vote for the nearly EUR 100 billion top-up until Hungarian payments blocked by various rule of law procedures are unblocked, portfolio.hu writes.
The other critical member states, on the one hand, are in favour of the loan, and on the other hand, they think that the aid to Ukraine should be covered in another way, because there is a good chance that someone would veto it, as Hungary has done many times. As an example, the Hungarian government now cites the fact that it held up aid to Ukraine until the end of last year – until the signing of the partnership agreement – just as it is not allowing payments to cover EU arms shipments from the European Peace Facility.
Renew MEP Valérie Hayer also criticised the agreement. According to her, this agreement prevents Europe from properly managing crises. Johannes Hahn, the EU’s budget commissioner, echoed this. Hahn stressed that no deal would be struck with the Hungarian government led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
Hungarian government: the EU is oppressing us! It’s the new Soviet Union!!!!
Also the Hungarian government: Why won’t the EU give us more money????
The name – my response to the commentary of cliff arroyo, beautiful picture of a dog I say, for the MAJOR reason firstly, is that the name Victor Orban remains terminal, black listed rightfully – by the European Union.
Secondly, the Orban Government by ruling of the Court of the European Union, got judgement against them, that they had seeked and received funding then used it for “other” purposes.
Orban and his Government misrepresented them-selves which simple is LIED to the European Union.
Thirdly – the European Union through the agenda and all we factually know, the acts of corruption associated – unlawful acts and “games” of Orban to split open, divide and cause mayhem and destruction of the European Union, that has led to Hungary, the opinion out of the European Union, that Hungary, under Victor Orban no longer is a DEMOCRACY but “styled” growing in being a Dictatorship.
Holding back loans to Hungary, are not the same as holding back free charity to the Ukrainian Oligarths. Since when had a government which is pro-referendum, voted in popularity so many times, ever had to answer to a bunch of fascist perverted dictators (EU leadership) that don’t listen to their own people or territories? Who again voted in these clowns to EU parliament, that think they have the right and power to send the continent into war? That’s right, NOBODY!
As Joseph Borrell said “Nobody is forcing Hungary to be a part of the European Union.” Anyone claiming “oppression” making comparisons to the Soviet Union is clearly wrong. Plans have been drawn up to get around Hungary’s use of the veto mechanism particularly in light of expanding the membership which could cause even worse gridlock. Hungary under Fidesz does not belong in the EU. Fidesz wants all of the benefits of membership while sticking it to Europe when it comes to European security and everything else. The point I would emphasize is that everything that Fidesz does to cause problems in the EU burns its’ bridges with the rest of the membership. Who wants to do Hungary any favours? Only one country and do you need to guess who – Russia. The only problem is Russia does business like the Godfather. They do you a favour now and they come back to collect later and you will pay double.
Dear Discreditable,
There is no need to constantly change your name. I recognize you by your constant negativity and your frequent use of caps. You parrot the leftist agenda and offer no real comments of value. Orbán rules. Get over it!
Europe needs Hungary more than Hungary needs the EU. Yes, the majority of exports go to the EU. The EU countries imported millions of people to solve their labor problems, eventually ended up locating many factories in Hungary because of qualified workforce. This workforce is Hungary’s most important asset. Hungary also tries to keep untrained, uneducated out of the EU, thereby saving EU taxpayers billions.
However, Hungary by its geographic position is a buffer state, a safety net for Europe as well as all the previous members of the Soviet bloc. Imagine, if Hungary joined Russia. If Russia wanted to attack western Europe, Hungary would provide bases for Russian armed forces. Russian fighters could tank up in Hungary.
Remember what you wish for Larry, do you believe that the EU accepted the Hungarian membership from the goodness of their hearts.
@mariavontheresa – all those wonderful foreign companies that fuel our economy are in Hungary for three reasons.
1) in the EU / Customs Union 2) cheap labor, and 3) low corporate tax (which our citizens pay for with Europe’s highest VAT rate)
We could not survive without the EU. As a Russian vassal state, perhaps. However, our past experience was not so great.
Regarding “Hungary keeping out” the untrained and uneducated … All the big tough Wall talk aside, our Politicians are actually releasing people smugglers in large numbers. You know. So they can look good catching them again, later (assuming they do not learn from experience). And anyone crossing the border dashes straight through our Land of Milk and Honey to other countries in the EU. As did the Ukrainian refugees.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/8/23/hungary-releases-over-1400-jailed-people-smugglers
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/09/28/ukrainian-refugees-eu-member-states-agree-to-extend-temporary-protection/
We are now officially down to 32000 Ukrainian refugees. As our Politicians like to remind us, so many entered Hungary! However, they then took the next train, plane, or car out of the country.. Very telling, I would love to hear your explanation.
@mariavontheresa sure, that was the same argument used for the UK, how’s the british economy doing right now?
Hungary benefits a lot more from EU membership than the block does from having neo-nazis in power opposing everything the EU decides because they are butthurt the EU is withholding their money because it’s proved that it will end up in Orban’s pockets.
The UK – there wrongful decision to vote themselves foolishly out of the Family of European Country’s – the European Union, has factually seen, there economy SHRINK.
mariavontheresa – come back to the “coal face” – the land of your birth and live, experience – open your eyes to what in fact is occurring worsening in Hungary daily, under your Demigod, named Victor Orbam.
Inflation hurt every nation. Covid and the Ukrainian war had adverse effect on the standard of living.
You, critics of Hungary, should go grocery shopping in the US and Canada. Even considering the weekly sales, many people cannot afford their grocery needs.
You, all look in the mirror and say, Oh poor me! Most commentators’ postings show what an unhappy lot you must have; you are all politically persecuted in Hungary, you are all starving, you are all homeless and have not had a day off work for 13 years. There must be at least one good thing that you could say about your country. If there is absolutely nothing, it is time for you to immigrate to a country of your dream that will certainly disappoint you.
@all the nay sayers,
Most here talk about what great benefit the EU is to Hungary. Sure, yes, it was, while the Master economy of Germany, most of West and contral Europe, lived off of, and still continue to live off of extremely cheap oil and gas, coal and Uranium. Pointing the finger on this on Hungary was a lie to begin with as its the classic “Pot calling the kettle Black”. Now where has Germany’s GDP or economy gone? As the Druzhba barely continues feeding it through Poland with the UKI promise of its termination shortly. Do a GDP check of who needs who from here on in as even though Hungary may be landlocked, Germany and even the rest of Europe can’t be fed by LNG supplies by ship. To do this, the Baltic Sea would be filled with so many ships every day, that a rowboat wouldn’t be able to get by any of them and it still would be a drop in the bucket for Germany alone. Europe in the west, don’t get your hopes too high, try making some friends now.