On a Sunday that drew world attention, the European Commission signaled a bold move aimed at safeguarding the EU budget. It proposed freezing roughly one-third of the cohesion funds earmarked for Hungary, a figure near 7.5 billion euros. The step is described as a protective measure against actions that could threaten the rule of law across the union, a concern voiced by several member states and EU institutions.
Informing reporters in Brussels, Budget Commissioner Johannes Hahn outlined the plan at a press conference. He framed the proposal as a conditional approach, subject to the decisions of the Twenty-Seven. The commission stressed that the aid suspension would come into play only if there are serious threats to the rule of law in EU member states, a policy already woven into the EU’s conditionality framework for budget management.
Hahn noted that the formal presentation of the proposal to the Council was planned for September 22. Following that, the 27 member countries would have one month to respond. In exceptional circumstances, the deadline could be extended by up to two months, a move the commission would request to allow Hungary more time to implement the reforms proposed to address the concerns. The objective, officials said, is to create space for Hungary to enact changes that align with the union’s governance standards while ensuring the cohesion funds continue to serve legitimate European priorities. [European Commission, 2024]