2023-05-17 19:49:00
30 billion euros in EU funds are earmarked for Hungary – and blocked. Because the judiciary and supervisory bodies in the country are not as independent as they should be.
Hungary must continue to wait for the release of blocked EU funding in the billions. Politically controlled institutions and deficiencies in the rule of law would continue to prevent fair allocation of funds, stated representatives of the Budget Control Committee (Cont) of the European Parliament in Budapest.
“Many questions, for example to the Hungarian Court of Auditors, remained unanswered,” said Committee Chairman Hohlmeier (EPP) at the end of a three-day visit to Hungary.
The EU is currently blocking around 30 billion euros in EU funds earmarked for Hungary – including 12 billion in aid and preferential loans from the Corona reconstruction fund. She justifies this by saying that the judiciary and supervisory bodies in Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s country are not sufficiently independent to ensure that EU funds are used correctly.
Hohlmeier admitted that there have also been positive developments recently. She mentioned recent reforms that could strengthen the independence of the judiciary and the creation of a new integration office to make it easier to fight corruption. But this is not enough. “We are sure to leave this mission with serious doubts that we would be ready to release funds,” said committee member Daniel Freund (Greens).
(APA/dpa)
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