Hungary

All news and posts of our editorial team on the topic

Ukraine: Dispute over import ban comes to a head
After Ukraine filed a complaint against Poland, Slovakia and Hungary at the World Trade Organization (WTO), Poland threatens consequences. continue reading →
New restrictions on Ukrainian grain
Poland, Slovakia and Hungary announced their own restrictions on Ukrainian grain imports on Friday after the European Commission decided not to extend its import ban on Ukraine’s five EU neighbors.The EU import ban has been in place since May. Brussels wanted to prevent individual member states from imposing unilateral bans. After that, Ukraine was allowed […] continue reading →
EU Parliament to deprive Hungary of Council Presidency
Yesterday, the European Parliament debated Hungary’s disregard for the rule of law and fundamental rights, as well as its frozen EU funds. This morning, the Parliament will vote on a resolution to this effect, which strongly condemns Hungary’s extensive violations of the rule of law in various areas, such as bypassing parliamentary participation in legislative […] continue reading →
Jourová: Reforms in Hungary are not yet enough
Commission Vice-President Věra Jourová has praised Hungary’s progress on rule-of-law reforms. The changes adopted to strengthen the independence of the judiciary are “an important step in the right direction”, Jourová said after the General Council meeting in Brussels. Progress was also evident in the fight against corruption and conflicts of interest, she said, but “there […] continue reading →
Foreign influence: Von der Leyen exerts pressure
On June 7, the Commission will present its package for the defense of democracy. The associated directive on the transparency obligation for interest representatives is already making waves. continue reading →
Despite judicial reform: Hungary still to wait for EU funds
The Hungarian parliament has passed an amendment aimed at strengthening the independence of the judiciary. The bill by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s right-wing government was approved by 151 deputies on Wednesday, including 19 from the opposition. There was no vote against it.With the legislative package, which was fast-tracked through Parliament, Orbán wants to gain access […] continue reading →
EU criticizes Poland and Hungary for import stop of Ukrainian grain
The EU has criticized the import ban on Ukrainian grain decided by Poland and Hungary. Unilateral trade measures by EU member states are not permissible, an EU Commission spokesman said Sunday. He said the EU had taken note of the decisions by Poland and Hungary. “In this context, it is important to stress that trade […] continue reading →
Hungary withdraws from Russian bank
A day after US sanctions were imposed on the Russian-controlled and Budapest-based International Investment Bank (IIB), Hungary has announced its exit from the financial institution. Because of the sanctions, “the functioning of the bank has lost its meaning”, the Hungarian Ministry of Economic Development said Thursday. Therefore, Hungary is recalling its staff from the bank […] continue reading →
Sophie Pornschlegel – talking more about the EU
Anyone who reads or listens to interviews with Sophie Pornschlegel discovers a European with a mission: “German taxpayers are helping to finance an autocracy like Hungary.” That is the kind of sentence she says. The EU? Lets itself be blackmailed. It warns of an emerging mob rule in Europe. And persistently repeats its messages in […] continue reading →
Werner Patzelt – on Orbán’s mission in Brussels
“I really hate to apply somewhere,” Werner Patzelt said in an interview. “I like being invited.” His latest invitation takes the political scientist to Brussels – on behalf of Budapest. Here, Patzelt heads the Brussels office of the Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC), a Hungarian think tank with close ties to the policies of Hungarian Prime […] continue reading →
EU holds back all of Hungary’s cohesion funds
The European Commission said on Thursday it would hold back all €22 billion of EU cohesion funds for Hungary until its government meets conditions related to judiciary independence, academic freedoms, LGBTQI rights and the asylum system.EU institutions had already decided on Dec. 12 to freeze 6.3 billion euros of the funds until the right-wing and eurosceptic government […] continue reading →
EU to jointly implement global minimum tax
German Finance Minister Christian Lindner has welcomed the EU compromise for joint implementation of the global minimum tax. “The path is cleared for implementation in the EU,” the FDP leader said in Berlin on Tuesday. Work on a corresponding directive should begin quickly. Germany plans to bring the 15 percent minimum tax for larger companies […] continue reading →
Hungary: Council must now decide
In the dispute over frozen funds for Hungary, the EU Commission passed the ball back to the member states. In a letter to the current Czech EU presidency, Commissioner for Budget and Administration Johannes Hahn reiterated the assessment that the recent anti-corruption and anti-nepotism measures taken by Budapest were not sufficient (You can find the […] continue reading →
Rule of law dispute with Hungary: finance ministers call for new assessment
In the dispute over the rule of law in Hungary and possible EU sanctions, the finance ministers have passed the ball back to the EU Commission. Meanwhile, Hungary is increasing the pressure by blocking the planned European budget support for Ukraine. continue reading →
Ecofin: probably no fiscal reform yet
According to insiders, the German government does not believe that there will be a quick agreement in the EU on a reform of the European debt rules. There will be an intensive exchange of views on this at tomorrow’s meeting of European finance ministers, German government circles said in advance. “There are voices that are […] continue reading →
Finance ministers must decide on billion-euro freeze for Hungary
In the dispute over the rule of law, the EU Commission recommends freezing more than €13 billion. Now the ball is in the Ecofin Council's court. However, not everyone there is in a hurry. At stake is the Union's credibility, but also its ability to act. continue reading →
European Parliament: no EU billions for Hungary
EU states are to freeze several billion euros because of rule of law deficiencies in Hungary, according to the European Parliament. The measures proposed by Hungary for a better rule of law are not sufficient to address existing systemic risks, the EU Parliament said. Earlier, a majority of MEPs approved a resolution to that effect […] continue reading →
Hungary: Commission rejects release of EU funds
According to information available to Europe.Table, the authority considers the reforms promised by Budapest to be insufficient to eliminate the rule of law deficiencies. Prime Minister Orbán will probably have to do without the urgently needed billions from Brussels for longer. continue reading →