no more money from Brussels to Hungary
NOS News†
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Kysia Hekster
European Union correspondent
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Kysia Hekster
European Union correspondent
Not a cent more EU money should go to Hungary as long as that country does not have the rule of law on order. Which advise three professors, including the Dutchman John Morijn, to the European Parliament. The three say that stopping all Brussels subsidies is the only way to properly protect the EU budget.
Hungary has been misusing EU funds for more than a decade and there is no independent monitoring of its spending, the report says. The danger is that all Brussels subsidies are misused, the report states.
Hungary largest subsidy recipient
Corruption in Hungary has been a thorn in the side of Brussels for years. At the end of April, the Commission will start a procedure for the first time that could ultimately lead to the end of EU subsidies to the country. This is possible if the rule of law and thus the Brussels billions to a country are endangered.
Hungary is the largest net recipient of the European Union in terms of the size of its economy. The country receives billions from Brussels every year. The legal advice is crystal clear: the Commission should no longer pay out all those billions.
The Commission is not obliged to adopt the advice, but must make a proposal on the 27 EU treaties. After that, a majority of those countries must propose it. Expected in less than a few months.
Support from left to right
Among Dutch MEPs there is broad support for the advice to stop the subsidies. It can count on enthusiasm from left to right. Thijs Reuten (PvdA): “As long as the EU finances Orbán, we are boundless hunger for power.” Malik Azmani (VVD) agrees. “It is now up to the European Commission to press ahead and suspend payments. Precisely to protect European cooperation.”
Tineke Strik (GroenLinks) most importantly how important it is that the subsidy is stopped. “If the Commission has decided to freeze only a very small particle, it is going to achieve the effect to begin with.
Lack of love
Relations between Hungary and the European Union have been difficult for years. “Why don’t you leave the European Union?”, Mark Rutte snapped at his Hungarian counterpart Viktor last June, because of the anti-gay law issued, which stipulates, among other things, that homosexuality may not be advertised to minors.
The lack of love between Brussels and mutual connection. On the night of his re-election in early April, Orbán said: “Our victory is so great that you can see it from the moon. And all the way from Brussels. Hungary first. Long live Hungary, long live the Hungarians.” When the Commission starts withholding real money later this year, the relationship will be further tested.