The European Parliament is preparing to take legal action against the European Commission over its controversial decision to unfreeze billions of dollars in funds for Hungary at the end of 2023.
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People involved in this decision told POLITICO Brussels Playbook.
Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee on Monday voted almost unanimously – 16 members in favor, one against and none abstaining – to take the Commission to court for breaching obligations to protect taxpayers’ money from misuse.
Last December, the Commission released €10.2 billion of frozen EU unification funds earmarked for Budapest that had been withheld due to human rights and rule of law concerns.
The decision came a day before an EU summit at which leaders discussed new aid to Ukraine and the start of accession talks for Kyiv – moves that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban had threatened to block.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s decision to unfreeze the funds was met with a backlash from MEPs who accused her of being blackmailed by Orban.
We believe we have a strong case because the Commission is contradicting itself on whether Hungary respects the rule of law,” Greens MEP Daniel Freund said on Monday evening.
The committee’s move, supported by members of von der Leyen’s own European People’s Party, is designed as “a sign to the Commission president that the rule of law cannot be traded for agreements with Orbán,” Freund said.
Political group leaders are set to meet on Thursday to give the final green light to President Roberti Metsol to take the Commission to court by March 25. Together with the leaders of S&D, the Greens, the Left and the Liberals, EPP leader Manfred Weber will vote in favor of the move.
A Commission spokesman said Tuesday morning that it adheres to “strict time frames and conditions” in making these decisions. Since Hungary had provided “all the evidence required by the Commission to demonstrate the independence of its judiciary,” it “was under a legal obligation to accept this decision.”
The Commission believes that it acted in full compliance with EU legislation and will defend its decision in the EU courts, the speaker added.
Source: Racurs
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