Hungary: EP takes EC to court over frozen EU funds

With an unprecedented resolution adopted today, the European Parliament seeks to challenge the Commission before the European Court of Justice over their unacceptable decision to prematurely release frozen EU funds for the Hungarian Government.

Katalin Cseh (Momentum, Hungary), Vice-President of Renew Europe and Renew Europe's shadow rapporteur on the Rule of Law conditionality mechanism in the Committee on Budgetary Control, said:

"Today, this house shows that we are serious when it comes to defending the rule of law in our union and that we are not afraid of Prime Minister Orbán's blackmailing attempts. The Commission will now have to face the consequences for selling out our EU vales."

To go forward with the Article 7(2) procedure to strip the Hungarian Government of its voting rights in the Council is another measures adopted, as well as for the European Council President to immediately start the procedures to reform the decision-making process to finally end the abuse of the veto right in the European Council.

Moritz Körner (FDP, Germany), Renew Europe's shadow rapporteur on the Rule of Law conditionality mechanism in the Committee on Budgets, said:

“Ursula von der Leyen sold off the rule of law in the EU in December like in a winter sale. For this, the European Parliament is taking the Commission to court. We are no longer going along with this. If Ursula von der Leyen continues to give money to Orban, the liberal group will use its voting weight to table a motion of censure against her. The Member States must also assume their responsibility and finally decide to withdraw Hungary's vote in the Council in response to the undermining of the rule of law in the country.”