The European Parliament (EP) is preparing to sue the European Commission (EC) over its controversial decision late last year to unfreeze billions of euros in funds allocated to Hungary, citing reports from those involved, on Tuesday, the 12th of March, reports Politico.
Parliament’s legal committee voted almost unanimously on Monday – 16 in favour, one against and no abstentions – to bring the Commission to court
for failing in its duty to protect taxpayers’ money from abuse.
In December, the Commission granted Budapest 10.2 billion euros of frozen European Union (EU) cohesion funds, previously withheld on human rights and rule of law grounds. The decision came ahead of an EU summit on aid to Ukraine and the Kyiv accession talks, which Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had threatened to veto.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen faced criticism from MEPs for unfreezing funds and was accused of giving in to blackmail by Viktor Orbán.
Daniel Freund, a Green MEP, argued that they had a solid case “because the Commission contradicts itself on whether Hungary respects the rule of law”, stressing that the EU Court of Justice has always defended the independence of the judiciary.
The Committee’s action, which was supported even by members of von der Leyen’s European People’s Party (EPP), is aimed at sending a signal to the President that the rule of law must not be exchanged for doing deals with Orbán, Freund explained.
The leaders of the political groups are expected to meet on Thursday to give President Roberta Metsola the green light to take the Commission to court before the 25th of March. According to officials, this vote will be supported by EPP leader Manfred Weber, along with the Social Democrats, Greens, Left and Liberals.
A Commission spokesman said on Tuesday that it had to respect “strict deadlines and conditions” when taking these decisions.
As Hungary had provided “all the evidence the Commission had requested
to prove the independence of its judiciary”, it was “legally bound to take this decision”.
“The Commission considers that it acted in full compliance with EU law and will defend its decision before the EU courts,” the spokesman was quoted as saying.
Also read: On the eve of EU summit, EC unlocks 10.2 billion euros for Hungary
Follow us on Facebook and X!