“If there is no political will to act, at least prevent corruption with EU funds.”

“If the Union cannot muster the political will for more concrete measures, it should at least prevent corruption with European taxpayers’ money,” MEP Irena Joveva stressed at a plenary session in Strasbourg on Tuesday, 21 November 2023. The European Parliament discussed the persistent threats to the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary and the failure to meet the conditionality requirement for EU funds in Hungary.‘‘

“Again we are debating the violation of the rule of law in Hungary,” warned Joveva, adding that there had been speculation about some kind of a deal between the European Commission and the Hungarian government to partially release the blocked funds. At the same time, the minimum measure of freezing Hungary’s voting rights under Article 7 of the EU’s basic treaty is going nowhere in the Council. Further on, she expressed concern that, in the meantime, the Hungarian authorities are continuing with their measures, which are in very clear breach of the rule of law and of the EU’s basic treaties.

“The Hungarian authorities, meanwhile, continue with their measures, which very clearly violate the rule of law and the EU’s fundamental treaties. The media are subordinated there, the judiciary is subordinated, the regulators are subordinated. All because of the absolutist Orban.”

She added that the situation in Hungary had even worsened. She backed up her statement by stating that the Hungarian government had proposed the creation of a new office to protect the country’s sovereignty, but in reality this would be just “another mechanism to silence the critical voices of civil society and the media – the few who still dare”.

”I understand that we have other problems in the Union, but the rule of law should never be neglected.”

BACKGROUND:

The European Parliament has been following with concern for many years the systematic and planned actions of the Hungarian authorities. They are deliberately undermining the fundamental values ​​of the European Union. In June 2023, MEPs expressed their concern about the situation in the country, as there is a further regression in EU values, in particular with regard to the lack of transparency of adopted legislative acts, the independence of the judiciary, the repeated undermining of the rights of LGBTQI+ people and freedom of expression.

In a new resolution, Parliament welcomed the Commission’s decision from last year to introduce budgetary measures to protect the EU’s financial interests against breaches of the rule of law in Hungary, suspending 65% of commitments for three cohesion policy programmes. MEPs reiterate their serious concern about the current developments in Hungary, especially in the light of the upcoming European elections and the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2024.

In a new resolution, Parliament welcomed the Commission’s decision from last year to introduce budgetary measures to protect the EU’s financial interests against breaches of the rule of law in Hungary, suspending 65% of commitments for three cohesion policy programmes. MEPs once again expressed their serious concern about the current developments in Hungary, especially in the light of the upcoming European elections and the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2024.

Foto: EP – Michel CHRISTEN