Von der Leyen reminds Hungary and Poland that there are millions of people waiting

D.addressing the European Parliament in Brussels in a debate on the next European Council of 10 and 11 December, Ursula from the Leyen made a progress report on the approval process of the multiannual financial framework for 2021-2027 and the Fund for Recovery, the total package of 1.8 billion euros agreed by European leaders July past to deal with the crisis caused by pandemic from covid-19, regretting that there is still no “green light”.

Remembering that commitment currently on the table, blocked by Hungary and Poland due to conditionality in accessing funds for the respect of the rule of law, was agreed by all EU heads of state and government on Julyin a long marathon negotiation, and the subject of a compromise earlier this month between Council and Parliament negotiators, von der Leyen regretted that “two Member States” now have doubts about an “indispensable” mechanism, which has always been included in the package.

“At stake are the violations of the rule of law that endanger the European budget, and only these. This is appropriate, proportionate and even necessary. It is difficult to imagine that anyone in Europe would object“, commented.

Of the Leyen he stressed that, moreover, “for those who still have doubts, there is a clear path, as they can always turn to the European Court of Justice to verify compliance with the rules”, as this is the right place to resolve disputes on texts “and not at the expense of millions of Europeans who urgently await European aid”.

“We all owe them a quick answer. Those that they have had to temporarily close restaurants and shops for the good of us all. Those whose existence is threatened. For people who fear for their work, even in Poland and Hungary“Ursula declared from the Leyen.

The approval of the 2021-2027 EU budget (1.08 billion euro) and the post-recovery fundpandemic (750 billion) is blocked by Hungary and Poland, which do not agree with the conditionality in accessing EU funds to respect the rule of law.

The veto threat materialized on the 16th November, in a meeting of the permanent representations of the member states to the EU, in which the 27 were supposed to “seal” the compromise reached by the German presidency, and remained at the European Council held last Thursday by videoconference.

Hungarians and Poles, without the strength to veto the rule of law mechanism, which only requires a qualified majority to pass, have vetoed another issue on which they have no reservations, that of their own resources, which it requires. unanimously, blocking the whole process.

On the eve of the Council, Hungary and Poland received support from Slovenia, which, although it does not threaten to veto the agreement, says it understands the position of those countries.

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