Supporters of Hungarian NGOs protest against the Budapest government's actions against civil society groups (Photo: Eszter Zalan)

Funding for European values needs radical changes

Rule of Law

Opinion

by Israel Butler, Brussels,

The European Commission has unveiled two new tools to frustrate aspiring authoritarians in the EU.

The first would allow the commission to block EU funds to governments that bring independent courts under political control.

The commission has packaged this proposal as a technical precaution, as previously suggested by the NGO, Civil Liberties Union for Europe.

According to this appro...

Get EU news that matters

Back our independent journalism by becoming a supporting member

Already a member? Login here

Rule of Law Opinion

Disclaimer

The views expressed in this opinion piece are the author’s, not those of EUobserver

Author Bio

Eszter Zalan is a Hungarian journalist who worked for Brussels-based news portal EUobserver specialising in European politics, focusing on populism and Brexit.

Hungary to tax NGOs that 'help' migration

Civil society chief: social media can't replace engagement

Rights NGOs face fresh threats in EU