The European Commission (EC) on Wednesday, the 13th of December, unblocked 10.2 billion euros of frozen European Union (EU) cohesion funds earmarked for Hungary, a day before European leaders are due to discuss new aid for Ukraine and the launch of accession talks, which Prime Minister Viktor Orban does not support, reports Politico.
The EC said that after a thorough assessment of the situation and consultations with the Hungarian government, the Commission has decided that Hungary has met its commitments, the EC said in a press statement, adding that “part of the cohesion funding will no longer be blocked and
Hungary may start claiming reimbursements of up to around 10.2 billion euros”.
The funds were released after a long-running dispute with Brussels over human rights and the rule of law in Hungary, when they were blocked in December 2022. Budapest implemented measures to strengthen the independence of the judiciary, which allowed the funds to be partially released, but additional reforms related to human rights and academic freedoms are still pending.
Hungary is also awaiting grants and loans amounting to 10.4 billion euros, which are conditional on anti-corruption measures.
The EC’s decision to give Hungary access to the frozen funds
comes just ahead of a crucial European summit where leaders will discuss the launch of accession negotiations with Ukraine. Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán, who has threatened to block any EU aid to Ukraine, has close ties with Moscow.
However, the Commission denied that the decision was taken deliberately, citing procedural deadlines.
The EC’s decision to allocate funds to Hungary is expected to face strong opposition from the European Parliament (EP), in particular from the leaders of the major political groups. In a letter seen by Politico on Wednesday, the leaders of the four largest European political groups – the European People’s Party, Socialists and Democrats, Renew Europe and the Greens – have warned against granting the funds.
Some MEPs have described the decision as “catastrophic”, saying the EC has shown Orban that he can achieve anything.
Read also: Orbán threatens Ukraine’s EU bid in a letter to the EC President
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