The European Union Parliament is considering legal action against the Commission for unblocking frozen funds to Hungary. This decision follows concerns regarding the rule of law in Hungary and a controversial deal between the Commission and Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán.
In December of last year, the Commission released €10.2 billion of frozen funds to Hungary, despite the EU having frozen around €30 billion in funds in 2022 due to concerns related to the rule of law. EU lawmakers have expressed their intention to challenge this decision and take legal action against the Commission.
EU Parliament negotiators are set to meet with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to address this issue. Green Member of the EU Parliament, Daniel Freund, has criticized the December deal with Orbán, stating that it was not based on actual reforms in Hungary.
The Parliament is concerned about the situation in Hungary and the release of frozen EU funds. They are calling on the Commission to use all available tools to address the risk of breach by Hungary and are prepared to take legal and political measures to ensure that all rules are being implemented as agreed.
A decision on the matter is expected to be made soon, as lawmakers of the EU will vote on the issue on Thursday. The frozen funds have had a significant impact on Hungary, particularly on Hungarian students in the Erasmus program, as 21 Hungarian universities have been suspended from receiving funds, affecting around 9,000 students.
Overall, the situation between the EU Parliament, the Commission, and Hungary is complex and controversial, and the outcome of the upcoming vote on the matter will be closely watched. Stay tuned for updates on this evolving situation.
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