A group of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) has called on the European Commission to suspend all financial support to Hungary, accusing the country of severe violations of democratic principles and European Union norms. In a letter signed by 26 MEPs, they warn of an ongoing deterioration in the rule of law and civil liberties under the current Hungarian leadership, reports the Baltimore Chronicle, citing LRT.
The appeal was prompted by several recent actions taken by the Hungarian government, including the adoption of legislation effectively banning LGBTQ events in Budapest and judicial reforms that, according to the letter’s authors, undermine the independence of the judiciary and target government critics.
Although Brussels has already frozen billions of euros in EU funds due to concerns over corruption and Hungary’s treatment of asylum seekers, the MEPs argue that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government shows no intention of reversing course. Instead, they see continued regression away from EU standards.
The initiative was launched by the Greens/EFA group and received support from members of other parliamentary groups, including the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), centrist Renew Europe, and the Socialists & Democrats (S&D). The letter emphasizes that allocating EU funds to a government openly disregarding the Union’s core values is unacceptable, and urges the Commission to use all available legal tools to halt funding immediately.
Earlier we wrote that Hungary accuses two Ukrainians of espionage amid rising tensions.