EU budget blocked by Hungary and Poland over rule of law issue

Reliable news from professional sources for events outside the USA
Forum rules
The rules to post are simple. Show your work. Post your proof. Cite verified, credible sources. Links to blogs and posting memes are not acceptable and will get you banned. Intelligent, educated, literate people always welcome.
User avatar
AHE
Site Admin
Posts: 3793
Joined: 2020, Sep 14, Mon, 9:56 am

EU budget blocked by Hungary and Poland over rule of law issue

Unread post by AHE »

Hungary and Poland have been criticised for violating democratic standards enshrined in the EU's founding treaty.

The EU is currently investigating both countries for undermining the independence of courts, media and non-governmental organisations. The clause threatens to cost them billions of euros in EU funding.

The ambassadors had voted through the clause that made access to EU funds conditional on adherence to the rule of law, because it only required a qualified majority, the German EU presidency said.

But the budget and the rescue package needed unanimous support and were then blocked by Poland and Hungary.

On Monday, they refused to support the plan. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had sent a note in advance of the meeting, to German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, making clear his intention, claiming the rule of law clause "jeopardises trust" between member states.

"We cannot support the plan in its present form to tie rule of law criteria to budget decisions," said Zoltan Kovacs, a spokesman for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki threatened a veto last week.

On Monday, Polish Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro said the rule of law issue was "just a pretext".

"It is really an institutional, political enslavement, a radical limitation of sovereignty," he said.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54964858
AHE network of sites

Blog: https://www.arkdvd.com/wp
Post Reply