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The European Commission should give the green light to the Hungarian recovery plan

2021. 10. 08.

At the European Parliament’s plenary session, the European Commission presented its reasons as to why it has not yet adopted the national recovery plans of some Member States. In the debate, Fidesz MEP Enikő Győri pointed out that the Parliament’s left-wing majority is once again using blackmail and political pressure against Hungary and Poland. She called on the Commission to put an end to this and to, based on legal grounds, give the green light for the disbursement of funds.

MEP Enikő Győri said that blackmail is a standard working method of the left-wing majority. However, the European Commission (EC) cannot forget its mandate even under the pressure of Parliament: It can only act on the basis of EU law. EC cannot impose additional conditions on certain Member States to qualify for the disbursement of recovery funds. And Hungary does not accept the double standard in such a case.

The Fidesz politician stated: We are not for sale, and we will stand our ground regarding the Child Protection Act. While we will not allow anyone to be discriminated against, the sexual education of children will remain in the hands of parents. 

MEP Győri stressed that Hungary’s recovery cannot wait, thus the government will get it going on its own. We will start healthcare developments as well as a green and digital transition, which will be pre-financed by the Hungarian national budget, as we are doing in the case of programmes of the new seven-year development cycle.

She also noted that Hungary’s credit rating has continued to improve in recent weeks. In relation to this, MEP Győri stressed that international investors have confidence in Hungary and recognise the Hungarian economic model, and we are also obtaining funds from the financial markets on very favourable terms. However, we still do not understand why the Commission is delaying the approval of the Hungarian plan.

According to MEP Enikő Győri, the EU recovery money is not charity; the Hungarian people are entitled to HUF 2.5 trillion of the joint loan. The relevant European legislation is clear, the European Commission should give Hungary this money since the Hungarian recovery plan meets EU requirements and there is no professional obstacle to its approval.

The MEP called on the Commission to stop jeopardising confidence in its professionalism, to have the courage to put an end to this unworthy saga, and to give the green light to the Hungarian recovery plan.

Background:

  • Negotiations are ongoing between the government and the European Commission on Hungary’s Recovery and Resilience Plan.
  • However, we do not regard it as acceptable that the adoption of the Recovery Plan should be made subject to commitments to unrelated issues. Therefore, no condition arising from, among others, the misinterpretation of the Child Protection Act should be made a requirement in any way.
  • Furthermore, any Commission requirement that would demonstrate the existence of unlawful discrimination against Member States, i.e. which would run counter to the prohibition of double standards, cannot be accepted.
  • If negotiations are used to exert pressure beyond the mandate given by the relevant EU regulations, confidence in the professionalism and credibility of EU institutions will be seriously undermined.
  • Hungary’s position is that the plan we submitted and our responses to the Commission’s supplementary questions make it suitable for the Commission to accept it.
  • The Hungarian plan fulfils every requirement of the EU RRF Regulation, its technical content is in line with EU standards, and it appropriately addresses country-specific recommendations. Moreover, the Hungarian plan exceeds the EU’s digital and climate targets, with 39.45 per cent instead of 37 per cent and 24.63 per cent instead of 20 per cent, respectively.
  • We trust that an agreement will be reached soon and that the recovery funds will not become a victim of political disputes and a means of political blackmail.
  • The recovery instrument was designed by the European Union to help reduce the economic and social damage caused by the coronavirus epidemic and to make Member States resilient to similar crises. The aim of the instrument would therefore be to respond rapidly, and the responsibility of EU institutions would be the speedy allocation of the instrument’s resources.
  • However, protracted negotiations should not delay the recovery, and a delay in the adoption of the Hungarian Recovery Plan by the EU should not jeopardise the implementation of domestic programmes. This is why the government has decided to start all the reforms and investments foreseen in the Hungarian Recovery Plan from the national budget. The performance of the Hungarian economy over the past 10 years makes this possible.