The EU Parliament demands a stop of all funds for Hungary-Orbán under pressure!

The EU Parliament demands a stop of all funds for Hungary-Orbán under pressure!

In the EU Parliament, there are currently considerable efforts to block the financial means of Hungary. In an open letter, 26 EU MPs asked the European Commission to immediately post all payments to Hungary. The pressure on the Hungarian government under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is increasingly greater after violations of fundamental rights have been determined again and again. These demands include the ban on the Pride Parade and a massive repression of non -governmental organizations (NGOs) in the country.

This is how MP Lena Schilling describes the location of the Greens as "years of systematic oppression" and demands that Hungary should no longer receive EU funds. Furthermore, she speaks to withdraw orbán the voting right in the EU Council. Helmut Brandstätter from the Neos criticized that Orbán blackmailed EU money by blocking help for Ukraine. Hannes Heide from the SPÖ sees Hungary as part of an "anti -democratic downward spiral" and demands that European funding should no longer flow to him.

continuing violations of rights and freedoms

Current developments show an increased procedure of the Hungarian government against minorities and votes against. In March, a law was issued that banned the annual Pride Parade in Budapest. People who violate this ban can be identified, whereby facial recognition software is to be used; Finish fines of up to 500 euros. The repressive measures against NGOs have also intensified. A planned draft law should enable the tax office to withdraw material support from abroad and oblige these organizations to report transfers to them.

In addition, several MPs from Christian Democrats, Social Democrats, Liberals and Greens have asked the Commission to put the Hungarian government under more pressure. The FDP European politician Moritz Körner has clarified: "Anyone who cares about the respect of EU values ​​has earned zero euros from the EU budget." This clear announcement underlines the determination of the EU MPs to protect the financial interests of the Union and the European taxpayers.

Legal state mechanism and EU funds

As early as 2020, the European Parliament has decided a new mechanism to suspend payments to Member States for violations of the rule of law. This decision came into force on January 1, 2021, and Hungary, together with Poland, brought an action before the European Court of Justice in order to question the legality of mechanism. Despite these complaints, the mechanism remains in force and obliges the Commission to protect the financial interests of the EU.

MPs repeatedly demand that EU funds do not flow to states that violate democracy and fundamental rights. The EU Commission has already decided extensive sanctions against Hungary in recent years due to the allegations of corruption. Nevertheless, there are concerns from the MPs that nothing has improved despite these measures, in particular with regard to the attacks on civil society, free media and the independence of the judiciary.

The Hungarian government undertook some reforms, including the introduction of an integration authority, but around 19 billion euros remain frozen. Hungary has already lost over a billion euros this year, which further exacerbates the problems.