Hungary’s government has received from Brussels the letter activating the so-called conditionality mechanism linking European Union funding to the rule of law, the prime minister’s chief of staff said on Wednesday.
The government will review the letter and give a detailed opinion on it at Thursday’s regular press briefing, Gergely Gulyás said in a video on Facebook. All the government can say for now is that Hungarian voters made a clear decision in the April 3 general election, Gulyás said.
The people made it clear that Hungary needed to stay out of the war in Ukraine, that Hungarians should not be made to pay the price of war and that protecting children from “any form of sexual propaganda” is a priority, he said.
“These issues are red lines for the government on which it can make no concessions,” Gulyás said. He added that at Thursday’s briefing the government will give a detailed opinion on issues it is willing to compromise on. Earlier on Wednesday, the European Commission said it had authorised Johannes Hahn, the Commissioner for Budget and Administration, to send a notification letter to Hungary, activating the mechanism linking EU funding to the rule of law.
Read alsoHungary to lose significant EU funding?
Source: MTI
4 Comments
Yes, this was triggered a few days ago.
Of course it’s not solely about the ‘child protection referendum’ which was invalid anyway, and certainly not about the war in Ukraine. It’s talking about reforms on curbing the independence of the judiciary and civil society, and targeting the rights of minorities including women and LGBTQI+ citizens.
Also, talk of corruption and allegations that Orbán and his allies have funneled EU money away from their intended recipients including NGOs; of course this is more difficult to prove. Media freedom is another concern. While they control and manipulate that they can say what they want and blame everyone else!
One does hope they don’t keep using the excuse that on 3rd April in this democratic country we used our democratic right to keep Fidesz in power! We know how much they love to say we live in a democracy.
Nothing is new. Hungary refused to bow to Brussels. It is really time to evaluate seriously whether it is to Hungary’s interest to stay in the EU. No amount of money is worth giving up sovereignty.
@marievontheresa, did you celebrate the birthday of YOUR Head of State of Canada the other day? Queen Elizabeth II?
Maple syrup, get a life!