Hungary's Prime Minister Orban lost a lot of trust in Brussels. His latest promises of reform are viewed with suspicion, and a billion-dollar payout is on the brink. Now Poland's prime minister is joining the right-wing populist. But Warsaw is also struggling with EU reform requirements.
Poland wants to oppose the planned cut in EU funding for Hungary. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told journalists on Sunday evening that his country would "do everything in its power to resist any plan by the European institutions to withhold funds from a member state, in this case Hungary, in an absolutely unacceptable manner." The EU Commission had previously proposed freezing 7.5 billion euros in EU aid to Hungary due to allegations of corruption.
Among other things, Brussels accuses Hungary of corruption, conflicts of interest and massive problems with public procurement and party financing. A group led by right-wing populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban is suspected of enriching itself to the detriment of the EU budget. Ultimately, the EU member states would have to decide on the cut, but the Commission still wants to give Budapest the opportunity to carry out reforms.
The right-wing nationalist government in Budapest announced reforms on Saturday that the country wants to use to prevent a cut in funding. Hungary has announced that it intends to implement "measures to rectify the situation" by November 19, said EU Budget Commissioner Johannes Hahn. His authority will "evaluate the situation and act accordingly". In April, the Commission activated the so-called rule of law mechanism against Hungary. This means that payments from the EU budget can be reduced in the event of violations of common fundamental values.
Morawiecki pointed out that Orban had already prepared "a draft agreement" with the EU Commission. Brussels is also at odds with the head of the right-wing conservative government in Warsaw - in this case the main issue is judicial reform. Hungary and Poland are also being targeted by the Commission for violations of press freedom and minorities.
Hungarian anti-corruption activists warn that the Orban government could dupe Brussels. And warning voices are also coming from the European Parliament. "It is fatal that Viktor Orban can still avert these sanctions before the end of the year with a few sham reforms," said Green MP Daniel Freund. The FDP politician Moritz Körner said that the federal states should not allow themselves to be fobbed off "with quickly decided paper tigers". "Orban has lost the right to a leap of faith."
