The European Commission has confirmed it will not process payment requests linked to previously frozen funds. Still, several MEPs warn that loopholes could allow Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to gain access to blocked EU money.
Lawmakers are seeking to prevent Orbán from tapping into cohesion funds that remain frozen following the EU’s midterm budget review. The review is designed to redirect unused resources toward defence, dual-use goods, and to accelerate spending in the second half of the EU’s seven-year budget framework.
According to MEPs, the Hungarian government could use the reallocation process to unlock funds without meeting EU conditions on academic freedom and LGBTQ+ rights. Orbán is once again playing games. He’s trying to shift money from frozen funds into pots still available to him. Until Hungary restores the rule of law, not a single cent should be released. If we fail to stop this, Orbán could ‘unfreeze’ up to €1.68 billion. The Commission must not allow it,” said MEP Daniel Freund.
Euronews was unable to verify reports that €160 million of frozen funds have already been paid to Hungary. The Commission also declined to comment on Hungary’s reported request for an additional €600 million.
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