The European Parliament (EP) adopted a resolution on Thursday, urging to sue the EU executive if it decides to release frozen funds worth 10.2 billion euros ($11 billion) to Hungary.
The resolution was adopted with 345 votes in favour, 104 against and 29 abstentions at the Parliament’s General Assembly in Strasbourg. However, if Hungary’s frozen funds are unblocked, the parliament will appeal against the European Commission to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.
The document, which claims that the European Parliament is the guardian of EU treaties and financial interests, also called for an inquiry into the validity of the allocation of Hungary’s funds.
It also criticised Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who vetoed a €50 billion financial aid package for Ukraine. The resolution denounced the prime minister for “violating the principle of sincere cooperation,” stressing that the EU “will not give in to blackmail that jeopardises its strategic interests and values.”
The resolution condemned Orbán’s “deliberate, sustained and systematic efforts to undermine the EU’s fundamental values” and claimed that the European Commission, led by Ursula von der Leyen, had failed to fulfil the Article 7 procedure.
In defence of her decision to unfreeze the funds for Hungary, the European Commission president stated that the funds would not be released until the country met all the necessary conditions.
Orbán claimed that deputies in the EP “once again attacked” his country. He stressed that Hungary did not agree with the EU on the financial package drawn up for Ukraine.
“They want to give money to Ukraine for 4 years when there are only 5 months left before the European elections. Essentially, they want to take away people’s right to decide about their own future. What an anti-democratic attitude.”
He also argued that aid to Ukraine should be provided beyond the EU budget.
If we want to help Ukraine, let’s do it outside the EU budget and on an annual basis. This is the only democratic behavior only 5 months before the elections.
The Hungarian leader claims that the EU budget should support member states, meanwhile Ukraine, not being part of the bloc, suffers from serious corruption, and Western support for the war has not yielded tangible results.
EU leaders, who abstained from the decision, will hold a summit in Brussels on February 1 to discuss financial aid to Ukraine and a review of the EU’s long-term budget.
