European Parliament opposes release of Hungary's frozen EU funds

The European Parliament (EP) passed a resolution Thursday which calls for taking legal action against the European Union’s executive branch if it decides to release €10.2 billion ($11 billion) worth of frozen funds to Hungary.

The resolution was adopted with 345 votes in favor, 104 against and 29 abstentions at the parliament’s General Assembly in Strasbourg.

In the resolution, members of the parliament signaled that if Hungary's frozen funds are released, they will appeal against the European Commission to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.

The resolution emphasized that the European Parliament should use all available legal and political measures to ensure compliance with the criteria and relevant legislation and stressed that the EP is the guardian of EU treaties and the EU's financial interests.

It also called for examining the validity of releasing the €10.2 billion in funds.

The resolution also criticized Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who vetoed the EU's €50 billion financial aid package for Ukraine, for “violating the principle of sincere cooperation” and emphasized that the EU "will not give in to blackmail that jeopardizes its strategic interests and values.”

In the resolution, it was argued that frozen EU funds should be handled together and that no payments should be made to Hungary until deficiencies in various areas are addressed.

The resolution condemned Orban's "deliberate, sustained and systematic efforts to undermine the EU's fundamental values" and argued that the European Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen had failed to implement the Article 7 procedure.

The symbolic resolution is important, as it reflects the common position of the EP.

In a debate before the vote, members of the EP criticized von der Leyen, saying she was responsible for releasing the €10.2 billion.

Von der Leyen defended her decision, saying the roughly €20 billion worth of Hungary’s funds that remain frozen would not be released until all necessary conditions had been met.

Orban, in a post on X in response to the discussions in the EP, reacted to the criticisms against him and argued that the liberal deputies in the parliament "once again attacked" his country.

He said his country does not agree with the EU about the financial package prepared for Ukraine.

"They want to give money to Ukraine for 4 years when there are only 5 months left before the European elections. Essentially they want to take away people's right to decide about their own future. What an anti-democratic attitude," he said.

Saying that aid to Ukraine should be provided outside the EU budget, he said: "If we want to help Ukraine, let's do it outside the EU budget and on an annual basis. This is the only democratic behavior only 5 months before the elections."

Hungary opposes financial aid to Ukraine on the grounds that the EU budget should support the member states, that there is serious corruption in Ukraine, and that the West's support in the war has not yielded results.

EU leaders, who have not taken a decision on the issue yet, will hold a summit in Brussels on Feb. 1 to discuss financial support for Ukraine and revisions to the EU’s long-term budget.

*Writing in Istanbul by Zeynep Cetin