Withholding recovery money from Hungary is against the law

The European Parliament’s (EP) Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee with Employment and Social Affairs Committee jointly analysed the economic situation in Europe with the commissioners in charge of the topic: Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, Paolo Gentiloni, Commissioner for Economy, and Nicolas Schmit, Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights. MEP Enikő Győri asked Commissioner Gentiloni about the recovery funds for Hungary. The MEP pointed out that “the Commission is in serious breach of the law.”

MEP Győri said that the recovery fund plays a crucial role in getting the economy back on its feet after the Covid-19 crisis: “in the meeting Commissioner Gentiloni did not challenge my claim that it creates an unlawful inequality if some Member States receive the recovery money while others do not.”

During the debate, the MEP recalled Gentiloni’s statement from last week’s Ecofin Council meeting where the Commissioner admitted that issues around “non-discrimination in education” was one of the reasons for withholding approval of the Hungarian plan. However, the Brussels body has so far denied that Hungary is being discriminated due to its Child Protection Act adopted last June: “In response to my question, besides the well-known accusations regarding corruption and the justice system, the Commissioner mentioned educational problems without further elaboration, as one of the reasons for withholding funds. Meanwhile, we know that by objective standards, Hungary has nothing to hide in these areas. Although specifically asked, Commissioner Gentiloni did not provide reference to any legal basis for including education in the criteria. This also suggests that the Commission is in serious breach of the law by withholding recovery funds from my country”, said MEP Enikő Győri.