The European Commission (EC) on Thursday, the 23rd of November, approved 900 million euros in advance payments to Hungary from the frozen recovery funds, which were frozen over concerns about corruption and breaches of democratic checks and balances under the rule of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, to prevent a Hungarian veto on aid to Ukraine, reports Reuters.
Hungary is halting EU decisions to give Ukraine 50 billion euros in economic aid by 2027 and to start accession talks with Ukraine. Hungary has also blocked a plan to give Ukraine 20 billion euros in EU military aid and
opposes sanctions against Russia.
Orbán, while praising his ties with Moscow, claims that Hungary has the same corruption level as other EU countries.
The Hungarian Government’s publicity campaign defaming the EC and the proposed bill on the protection of national sovereignty have further aggravated Hungary’s relations with the EU.
Hungary’s chief EU negotiator, Tibor Navracsics, told the state news agency MTI that Hungary is determined to continue negotiations with Brussels to unfreeze all EU funds to which it is entitled.
According to Reuters, the 900 million euros in advances approved as part of the RePowerEU post-pandemic initiative do not require compliance with the rule of law conditions normally attached to EU financial aid. EU officials have said that Hungary plans to use the RePowerEU funds to modernise its electricity sector.
Thursday’s EC decision yet needs to be approved by other EU countries
and a decision could be seen at a meeting of finance ministers on the 8th of December, according to Reuters.
EU officials told they expect two payments of around 460 million euros each for next year, but Hungary must meet EU conditions on tackling corruption and ensuring judicial independence to access the extra funds.
Officials last month had told Reuters that the EU was considering to unfreeze the aid to Hungary in exchange for support for Ukraine, sources preparing for a summit of EU leaders on the 14th-15th of December expressed scepticism that Orbán might change his mind.
Read also: Hungary calls for a review of EU policy towards Ukraine
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