By Le Figaro with AFP
Published
January 1 at 4:13 p.m.,
updated January 1 at 6:04 p.m.
Part of the 19 billion funds frozen by Brussels due to breaches of the rule of law officially expired this Wednesday.
One billion euros of European funds lost for Hungary. Frozen due to breaches of the rule of law accused of Budapest by the European Commission, these funds were officially withdrawn this Wednesday 1is January, a first in the EU. Brussels had triggered the conditionality mechanism against the Central European country in spring 2022, a procedure which resulted in the suspension of certain payments. The Commission then mentioned “serious concerns” on the use of the European budget by Hungary, linked to the conditions for awarding public contracts as well as a lack of control and transparency.
Budapest has since undertaken reforms which have made it possible to release part of the money, but 19 billion remains frozen under various procedures. “Under the conditionality regulation, (…) the first tranche” suspended money, amounting to 1.04 billion euros, has expired «fin 2024»specified the Commission.
The call for early legislative elections
Since his return to power in 2010, nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban has strengthened his grip on power and those close to him have become spectacularly rich. In July, the European Commission found in a report that Hungary did not meet EU democratic standards, notably on corruption, political financing, conflicts of interest and media independence. Viktor Orban promised to “fight” to protect money “who is ours”. “They are constantly trying to take money from Hungarians by various means and for various reasons”he protested in December, threatening to block the EU budget to achieve his ends.
In this difficult context for the leader against a backdrop of economic recession, his new rival Peter Magyar called on Wednesday for early legislative elections, while several polls give his party a lead. The ballot is currently scheduled for spring 2026. “Time is running out. Let’s bring forward the date of the elections so that the country does not waste another year unnecessarily”he said in his wishes for 2025. “We will bring home the billions that the European Union owes us”.
In addition to the frozen funds, Hungary has been targeted by the Article 7 procedure since September 2018. Intended to sanction a Member State where a «violation grave» of the rule of law, this can in theory go as far as a suspension of this country’s voting rights within the Council of the EU.
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