All posts tagged: Conditionality

5 ways the EU could cope with Hungary if Orbán wins again  – POLITICO

5 ways the EU could cope with Hungary if Orbán wins again  – POLITICO

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has floated the increased use of enhanced cooperation among willing member states to bypass unanimity in areas such as competitiveness. Speaking at an EU leaders’ retreat in the Belgian countryside in February, she said: “Our ambition should always be to reach agreement among all 27 member states. However, where a lack of progress or ambition risks undermining Europe’s competitiveness or capacity to act, we should not shy away from using the possibilities foreseen in the treaties under enhanced cooperation.” Why it might not work: While Hungary has opted out of Ukraine-related financial arrangements, alongside Czechia and Slovakia, it continues to block these efforts. On the Ukraine loan, for example, one of the bills that needs approval before the cash can be disbursed requires the agreement of all member countries. “In cases of very urgent need, this can be a vehicle, but in the end it still comes back to a decision by all 27,” one senior diplomat said.  Two other diplomats were critical of these restricted formats, saying they should …

Talks on EU’s €1.8T budget hinge on Hungarian election – POLITICO

Talks on EU’s €1.8T budget hinge on Hungarian election – POLITICO

Given the Hungarian leader’s success in remaining in power, 10 EU officials and diplomats, all granted anonymity to speak freely with POLITICO, outlined what they see as the worst-case scenario: Orbán securing a fourth term and derailing budget negotiations. “We are not in a rush, so if we win the elections, then we certainly don’t see the need to rush the agreement on the MFF through by the end of 2026,” said Hungarian Minister for European Affairs János Bóka. During negotiations to date, the Hungarian government has called for the links between EU payments and respect for democratic standards to be dismantled. Those standards, however, are a key priority for wealthy Northern European countries, whose contributions to the EU budget largely exceed the payouts they receive in return. “One can easily imagine how a discussion on the rule of law will be more difficult if a government [led by Viktor Orbán] that has had the most difficulties and recorded breaks of the rule of law stays in power,” said Jan Szyszko, Poland’s deputy minister for …