EU video summit: no breakthrough in the budget dispute



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In the dispute over the freezing of the EU budget and the Crown Aid Fund by Hungary and Poland, no solution is in sight. Both countries reiterated their position. Apparently there are considerations about organizing Crown aid without both countries.

After the blockade of the EU budget and the economic aid of the Crown by Hungary and Poland, a video summit has not yet brought a solution. Chancellor Angela Merkel told the other heads of state and government why Germany currently chairs the 27 countries.

According to information provided by EU circles, Hungary and Poland reaffirmed their blocking position. After a brief debate, the real agenda continued without a turning point: coordination in the Corona crisis. It involved mutual recognition of crown tests, vaccination preparations, and a common approach to lifting restrictions on the crown, EU Council leader Charles Michel announced.

The budget package is blocked for seven years

On Monday, Hungary and Poland vetoed a central budget decision. They collide with a new clause to reduce funds in case of certain violations of the rule of law in beneficiary countries. With his no, the entire € 1.8 trillion budget package is on hold for the next seven years for now. This includes € 750 billion in aid for the crown, which many EU countries are urgently hoping for.

According to ARD correspondent Markus Preiss it is the end of the patience of many states. There are considerations that if Poland and Hungary do not yield, they will organize Crown aid without both countries.

Chancellor Merkel described the dispute as a “very serious problem that we need to solve. We will work hard and seriously”. Asked if it was an option for her to threaten Poland and Hungary with the deprivation of the right to vote, Merkel said: “For me, the word threat is not a word in this context anyway. We have a duty to try to find a way. find. “

Merkel also said she sees little room to give in to the dispute with Hungary and Poland over the link between the rule of law and the disbursement of EU funds.

Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas stressed that many EU states are not ready to make major compromises on the rule of law. “This is a very difficult situation we are in,” said the SPD politician.

The new rule of law clause was already agreed in principle in July, when the heads of state and government set the € 1.8 trillion budget package at a five-day summit. But the wording was very vague at the time.

Hungary and Poland complain that the agreements were not implemented correctly at the time. The German presidency of the Council of the EU has negotiated details with the European Parliament. The EU Parliament does not want to move away from it, as stated by President David Sassoli together with the group leaders.

“Slap in the face of all Europeans”

CSU politician Manfred Weber, group leader of the European People’s Party, said he couldn’t understand why Poland and Hungary complained about the clause. Eventually, each country has the opportunity to appeal to the European Court of Justice against the reduction of funds. Green politics Franziska Brantner called the veto of Hungary and Poland a “slap in the face for all Europeans”.


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