The European Commission is to unlock over €16.4 billion in frozen EU funds, Ursula von der Leyen has announced.
The funds will be disbursed once the agreed reforms are implemented, following talks between the Commission president and Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar.
Magyar expressed gratitude, saying he had not expected so much so soon after defeating Viktor Orbán in last month’s election.
“One of our most important commitments during the campaign was that we where going to unlock the billions of euros that Hungarians deserve,” he said.
“We were tough negotiation partners – the president can attest to that – we fought for every last cent.”
Von der Leyen said “[Hungarians] made a clear choice. They choice democracy. They chose to return to the heart of Europe.”
She said that over €10 billion in pandemic recovery cash and €6,4 billion of cohesion funds would released “subject to reforms” agreed today.
“All reforms in this package have to be done. In only a few weeks, you have driven forward long overdue reforms,” said Von der Leyen. “The moment the rule of law reform passes the parliament, the moment the money tied to that milestone can be disbursed.”
The new prime minister has a commanding majority in the Hungarian parliament, paving the way for a seamless adoption of the reforms required for the money to be disbursed.
Magyar insisted that the decision on funding was not linked to negotiations, on the agenda for an EU summit in June, to begin detailed talks on Ukraine’s membership bid.
“There was absolutely no link between the unfreezing of the funds and the opening of first cluster of talks,” he said.
Magyar said the cash amounted to 14% of the Hungarian budget.
“If every time I come here I come back this kind of money – I will come more often,” he joked.
Von der Leyen added: “It is quite a sum but the Hungarian people deserve it.”
This story is being updated.
(cs)
Source:
www.euractiv.com
