Poland and Hungary are demanding a review of the rule of law in the provision of economic assistance to pandemic-affected countries by the European Union. The corresponding statement was made by the Prime Ministers of Hungary Viktor Orban and Poland Mateusz Morawiecki on the evening of Thursday, November 26, after a meeting in Budapest.
Morawiecki wrote on Twitter that “Poland and Hungary are acting in the interests of the entire European Union.” The countries demand the resumption of the negotiation process.
Vice-President of the European Parliament Katarina Barlia called the plans of the two countries “illusory”, as only in July the EU countries managed to reach a unanimous agreement on the formula of economic assistance, depending on adherence to the rule of law and basic European values. The proposal of Hungary and Poland will de facto start the negotiation process from scratch.
Hungary and Poland in mid-November blocked the allocation of a € 1.8 billion aid package for a period of seven years due to the current rule of law. Both countries have repeatedly had conflicts with Brussels in recent years due to ambiguous legal actions by their authorities.
In particular, in April this year, the European Commission initiated a new investigation into Poland due to judicial reforms in this country. Warsaw is required to bring it in line with EU standards. And in 2018, the European Parliament violated the penalty procedure against Hungary, accusing it of disrespecting European values and violating the rule of law.