EC taking away hundreds of millions of euros from Hungary for EU’s “migration fine”
Change language:
The European Commission will start deducting the 200 million euro fine from the funding payable to Hungary as the country has failed to pay by the deadline, the EC’s spokesperson said on Wednesday.
The second deadline of payment of the fine imposed in a ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union on June 13, after Hungary missed the first, was on September 17.
Balázs Ujvári said the Commission was mulling whether to deduct one lump sum or instalments.
In connection with a daily fine of 1 million euros, Hungary was also required to notify the EC on measures it would take to align its procedures with those ordered by the CJEU which imposed the fine in connection with the country’s migration practices, Ujvari said. The Hungarian authorities have given no response, and so the EC has sent the first request for payment, Ujvari said. The fine for the period between June 13 and September 17 comes to 93 million euros, and Hungary has 45 days to pay it, he added.
In the ruling issued last December, the CJEU said Hungary was “not respecting” EU legislation, including those on international asylum and on returning illegal immigrants to their home countries.
‘Manhunt’ against politicians who reject migration, FM Szijjártó says
A “manhunt” for politicians and governments that reject migration is under way, Péter Szijjártó, the foreign minister, said in Budapest on Wednesday, referring to the EU’s “huge fine” levied on Hungary and the six-year prison sentence sought for Matteo Salvini, Italy’s deputy PM.
“Brussels now runs a pro-migration policy, so a manhunt is under way for politicians and governments that reject this,” the minister said, responding to a journalist’s question at a joint press conference with Serbia’s economy minister.
“So we’re having to pay a huge fine for protecting our border, and that’s also why they’re seeking prison sentence of more than a half-decade for the Italian deputy prime minister,” he said, adding: “Are we living in a normal world? Has everyone here in Europe totally lost their minds?”
Salvini, he said, was a responsible politician who had chosen to protect his country and enforce its laws which determined who can enter Italian territory.
Hungary, he added, was being punished for protecting its borders, and yet “no one says a word about” the fact that Germany has closed the internal Schengen borders.
Fidesz throws away the money of Hungarians for nothing. It’s a trainwreck of a government..
Keep it up, EUrogarbage. The people are watching, taking note(s), and waiting. This won’t hurt Hungary; it’ll hurt those operating against Hungary.
Huxit is coming, mark my words, no matter how devastating it would be for the country. The narrative will be framed along culture war and monetary lines. The EU imposes an ‘unfair’ fine on Hungary on a politically sensitive matter, Hungary doesn’t pay so the EU deducts the fine from money that would otherwise flow to Hungary, the net monetary flow becomes too small to warrant towing the line when it comes to EU membership while exit from the EU’s structures give the government and its power base a free hand to conduct itself however it likes without oversight and difficult questions being asked. The narrative will be that Huxit is in the national interests even if it causes a ‘temporary’ downside for the economy. The economic effects will be downplayed, Hungary can turn east and find new partners to pick up the slack, ‘sovereignity’ is too valuable to prioritise economic interests, bla bla. I’ve seen this playbook unfold recently in the UK, the long term ramifications are devastating for the wider population but the power brokers don’t care as it vastly increases their room to manoeuvre, as well their personal wealth. I think the government would quite like exit routes from Hungary closed off, forcing the educated young to work at home or to oblige them to go to herculean efforts to source work visas in order to emigrate, the vast majority of the working population wouldn’t be entitled anyway as they don’t possess the right skills. At a stroke the labour shortage is solved and upward pressure on salaries arising from comparison with wages elsewhere that people presently can easily avail themselves of vanishes. The advantages for the government are endless while 95% of the population will be serious losers.
I know! I know! We can have a Europe of individual Fatherlands. It will be like the good old days!
Whomever said this, I agree: “Every Government Department Needs a Resident Historian” – so errors of past years may be avoided.
Ivor Crewe and Anthony King “The Blunders of our Governments” (2013)
UK context, cheap as chips on Amazon, shocking read (there is an entertainment factor – given its the Brits and not us being judged).
“High Security and Metal Detectors at Germany’s Oktoberfest After Knife Attack,” This is what the EU want for Hungary. Prior to 2015, Germany never had to use metal detectors at festivals. Not until the country allowed the settlement of may thousands of Muslims and other migrants. Since 2015, the standard of living of Germans was reduced due to the costs of supporting migrants.
There is no country that accepted uneducated migrants in the EU, UK or North America that benefitted by migration.
Hungary should just resign from EU court of justice, staffed by Hungary haters. Hungary should never attend their court and have nothing to do with them.
EC is the European court of injustice, a totally politicized entity.