Hungary, Poland agree On EU Stimulus

By Stefan J. Bos, Special Correspondent Worthy News reporting from Budapest

(Worthy News) – Hungary and Poland have agreed on a compromise to unblock the European Union’s enormous stimulus package, including the coronavirus rescue fund, several sources told Worthy News.

Both nations planned to torpedo the 1.1 trillion euro ($1.3 trillion) EU budget and the 750 billion-euro ($909 billion) in pandemic aid if funds were tied to rule-of-laws standards.

But they lifted their veto after current EU chair Germany proposed to allow the European Court of Justice (ECJ) to review the conditions.

The proposal, drafted with current EU chair Germany, still ties disbursements from the package to democratic standards. But sanctions can’t be triggered before the ECJ rules on the legality of the new regulations, according to the document seen by Worthy News.

The legal process could take up to two years to complete, said sources familiar with the situation. That is good news for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán as the increasingly autocratic leader faces elections in early 2022.

However, the time frame is not acceptable to Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, said a source familiar with his thinking. The source told Worthy News that Rutte would only agree if no other EU member state supports his views.

The breakthrough came ahead of Thursday’s summit with EU government leaders. Brussels has condemned Hungary and Poland for allegedly limiting the freedom of the press, judiciary, and even churches.

Governments in both countries denied wrongdoing. They accused the EU of pushing through liberal ideas on nations with different traditions.

Hungary and Poland also claim to value the rule-of-law as they were occupied for decades by troops of the then Soviet Union.

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