Saturday

9th Dec 2023

Orban raises summit stakes with 'blackmail' conditions

Hungary's prime minister Viktor Orban secured a parliamentary mandate in Budapest on Tuesday (14 July) to pressure the EU to end a rule-of-law probe and block linking European funds to a rule-of-law condition.

Orban's ruling Fidesz party, which dominates the Hungarian national assembly, adopted a resolution that calls on ending the so-called Article 7 sanctions probe as a condition to agreeing to the EU's long-term budget and planned recovery fund tackling the economic crisis prompted by the pandemic.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Become an expert on Europe

Get instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

It raises the stakes ahead of EU leaders' meeting on Friday and Saturday (17-18 July) to hammer out the proposed €750bn recovery package plus the over trillion euro next EU budget.

The agreement requires unanimity, giving Orban - and all other leaders - a veto.

In an effort to drive up the price for Hungary's assent to the fund, various aspects of which are opposed by other member states, Orban also appears to be attempting to head off a reduction of traditional funds earmarked for Hungary.

The Budapest resolution states that richer member states should not receive more support then citizens of poor countries, in an effort to protect cohesion funds directed towards Hungary.

But Orban's new mandate also sends a message against Brussels intensifying scrutiny over his increasing power-grab in Hungary, and towards reigning in civil organisations.

The resolution says "political parties and political organisations disguised as civilians should not be eligible for EU funding".

It also adds that "linking resources to political and ideological conditions, under the heading 'rule of law', is unacceptable", and so ruling out the rule of law conditionality.

Orban does not actually require parliament's support to agree to a deal, but wanted a show of unity and strength. His tactic has previously involved raising the stakes and then getting more out of the compromise.

However several EU countries, especially bigger contributors to the budget such as the Netherlands, are insisting on a rule of law conditionality.

In his compromise proposal, European Council president Charles Michel has already moved towards those opposing the rule of law conditionality - by requiring a majority of member states to support suspension of EU funds, in the case of rule of law problems, instead of a more automatic procedure.

Green MEP Daniel Freund has called Hungary's position "blackmail".

"Orban is taking the entire corona response hostage to not only kill new instruments for the rule of law but also to get rid of everything else he does not like: Article 7, critical NGOs…," he tweeted when the draft Hungarian resolution was published last week.

The Article 7 sanctions procedure against Hungary was triggered by the European Parliament in 2018 for breaching EU rules and values on media freedom, migration and rule of law.

It has, however, been lagging in the council of member states, as countries are reluctant to sanction each other. A similar fate applies to a similar procedure against Poland.

But EU leaders have never officially discussed the topic.

"This is not an issue for the European Council," a senior EU diplomat said, when asked if leaders will debate Hungary's condition on ending the Article 7 procedure.

EU leaders face major clash on rule of law budget link

One major issue dividing member states in the ongoing budget negotiations is inserting a direct link between EU subsidies and the rule of law. While the biggest battle will be over figures, the rule of law conditionality also creates tension.

Michel lays out compromise budget plan for summit

Ahead of expected tense discussions next weekend among EU leaders, European Council president Charles Michel tries to find common ground: the recovery package's size, and grants, would stay - but controls would be tougher.

EU Parliament considers streamlining rule-of-law tools

As the EU struggles to stop breaches of rule-of-law, and democratic backsliding, in some member states, the European Parliament plans to propose one single overarching tool to effectively monitor rogue capitals.

EU leaders face off over corona bailout summit

EU leaders will face difficult and fundamental issues on Friday-Saturday (17-18 July), when they attempt to agree on the planned seven-year €1.07 trillion budget and €750bn recovery package.

Opinion

Orban's bluffing on a rule-of-law mechanism - here's why

Viktor Orban is threatening to block the coronavirus recovery fund and the next EU budget if rule-of-law conditionalities are not to his liking. But a lack of EU funding would threaten the very fundamentals of his system and his cronies.

Polish truck protest at Ukraine border disrupts war supplies

Disruption at the Polish-Ukrainian border by disaffected Polish truckers is escalating, potentially affecting delivery of military aid to Ukraine. A Polish request to reintroduce permits for Ukrainian drivers has been described as "a shot to the head" during war.

Opinion

Tusk's difficult in-tray on Poland's judicial independence

What is obvious is that PiS put in place a set of interlocking safeguards for itself which, even after their political defeat in Poland, will render it very difficult for the new government to restore the rule of law.

Opinion

Can Green Deal survive the 2024 European election?

Six months ahead of the EU elections, knocking an 'elitist' climate agenda is looking like a vote-winner to some. Saving the Green Deal and the EU's climate ambitions starts with listening to Europeans who are struggling to make ends meet.

Latest News

  1. How Moldova is trying to control tuberculosis
  2. Many problems to solve in Dubai — honesty about them is good
  3. Sudanese fleeing violence find no haven in Egypt or EU
  4. How should EU reform the humanitarian aid system?
  5. EU suggests visa-bans on Israeli settlers, following US example
  6. EU ministers prepare for all-night fiscal debate
  7. Spain's Nadia Calviño backed to be EIB's first female chief
  8. Is there hope for the EU and eurozone?

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of MinistersArtist Jessie Kleemann at Nordic pavilion during UN climate summit COP28
  2. Nordic Council of MinistersCOP28: Gathering Nordic and global experts to put food and health on the agenda
  3. Friedrich Naumann FoundationPoems of Liberty – Call for Submission “Human Rights in Inhume War”: 250€ honorary fee for selected poems
  4. World BankWorld Bank report: How to create a future where the rewards of technology benefit all levels of society?
  5. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsThis autumn Europalia arts festival is all about GEORGIA!
  6. UNOPSFostering health system resilience in fragile and conflict-affected countries

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. European Citizen's InitiativeThe European Commission launches the ‘ImagineEU’ competition for secondary school students in the EU.
  2. Nordic Council of MinistersThe Nordic Region is stepping up its efforts to reduce food waste
  3. UNOPSUNOPS begins works under EU-funded project to repair schools in Ukraine
  4. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsGeorgia effectively prevents sanctions evasion against Russia – confirm EU, UK, USA
  5. Nordic Council of MinistersGlobal interest in the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations – here are the speakers for the launch
  6. Nordic Council of Ministers20 June: Launch of the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us