Hungary cannot even meet its own deadlines: EU funds at stake
Hungary failed to meet the deadline regarding the frozen EU funds. At the same time, the European Court of Justice’s decision could be precedential after a veto from the Hungarian government.
The Hungarian government must make satisfactory changes for the EU during its rule of law debate to receive the frozen funds totalling an eye-watering EUR 28 billion. But as Népszava reports, Hungary’s self-proposed deadline could not be met.
It was a well-known fact that the Hungarian government wanted to meet commitments to release EU funds frozen last year to Hungary by the end of March.
As we have previously reported, the EU required originally 17, later 27 amendments from Hungary, the vast majority of which include measures to strengthen the independence of the judiciary and anti-corruption measures.
According to Népszava’s sources, the negotiations are in the final stages but have not yet been concluded, so the end-March deadline will be passed. The European Commission is still analysing the Hungarian package of proposals and is awaiting precise information on the Hungarian government’s plans in some cases.
These include some of the bills to remove the conflict of interest in the governance of foundation universities, which the government is yet to present. For Hungarian universities, this is a crucial topic as currently, universities do not have access to their allocated Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe budgets.
Tibor Navracsics is due to visit Brussels again next week to discuss the matter with Budget Commissioner Johannes Hahn according to Népszava.
EU picks up the gauntlet
Simultaneously, the European Court of Justice might overturn a decision made by then Minister of Technology László Palkovics in 2021, Portfolio reports, which could prove that the EU’s bodies won’t be afraid to put the Hungarian government in its place.
Palkovics vetoed a Hungarian mining firm’s acquisition by another Hungarian firm. One of the parties concerned, Xella Hungary, therefore challenged the minister’s veto in court, arguing that while the government had given itself the power to prevent acquisitions of Hungarian-based companies in the emergency declared because of the coronavirus outbreak, this could be contrary to the principle of EU law that the EU has the power to screen foreign investment.
Palkovics argued that it would be contrary to Hungarian national interest to allow an indirect third-country (Bermudian) owned enterprise to take control of such a “strategically important” company.
However, according to Tamara Ćapeta, Advocate General of the Court of Justice of the European Union, this transition was far from a “genuine and sufficiently serious threat to a fundamental interest of society”, and could have been a politically motivated measure restricting capital flow. Therefore, now the Hungarian government must prove that the acquisition of a gravel mine would be indeed a serious threat to the national interest.
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4 Comments
Ah. These must be the rules Mr. Szijjártó identified as being “above and beyond mandated by the European Union”… And apparently at odds with EU rules???
Hungary should not count on money from EU. They will use any excuse to express their hate. At the same time, Hungary should not send any monies to the EU as long as anti-Hungarian rhetoric exist. Hungary’s true goal should be “get out of the EU” tell them where to go”.
Those amongst us, that think Hungary can have a FUTURE, without European Union Membership – Cranium DAMAGED.
Millions of Hungarians, at this immediate time, are living on the brink of financial ruination, the rapid increase of peasantry grows again – in Hungarian Society, just like pre 1989, with life quality ERODING rapidly.
Billions of Forints needed yesterday – to INVEST into the Hungary – in all the componentry required to IMPROVE the overall STANDARDS of a 21st century country, the Cranium Damaged – think Orban and his Mob – have got it, or be in a position of Economic & Financial Stabilization /Sustainability – to ACQUIRE it without European Union Membership?
The younger generation of Hungarians – continue to seek and move on.
Hungary – deaths yearly remain on trend that out number babies being born.
Declining and AGEING population.
Social Inequality in Hungary “exploded” – encouraged – that has been Feed created – by the Orban Government – Deplorable.
Orban and his MOB – have isolated Hungary, that friendships decisions of the immediate and FUTURE, are conducted with Hungary’s only (2) two friends being Russia & China.
Democracy – is massively and WRONGFULLY – veiled and skeletonized in Hungary.
Orban – can’t SIGN off to the European Union the Rule of Law – requirements.
Forces “other” over Orbans head – would destroy him and Siberia, would be like a 5 star Hotel, compared what would be his Valhalla.
The UK is so far far ahead of the EU for years- thousands of arrest for hatespeech. The EU can only dream- even the US has laws for miss gendering anyone and not using their correct pronouns. The EU has been working on it with how much defunding will be enough for members to Obey and to keep a separate issue from LGBS for a two front issue. Too bad the UK is no longer a member of the EU to help with the plebes.