Hungary and Poland are in the crosshairs of EU unelected commissioners over their position on open societies, mass immigration and multiculturalism.

Negotiators from the European Parliament advisory body and unelected EU Council recently reached an agreement that would tie the distribution of the European budget and recovery funds to what they call ‘a country’s respect for the rule-of-law’.

The agreement is yet to be formally voted on by the two European institutions made up of unelected commissioners. The timing of the new rule of law proceedings against Hungary announced on Oct.30 raises suspicions that Europe’s dominant left has created a punishing mechanism meant to subordinate nations like Hungary and Poland that do not share the EU vision for open societies, mass migration or multiculturalism.

Representatives of the Polish and Hungarian government strongly oppose the agreement. In their view, the distribution of the €1.8 trillion budget and recovery funds meant to regenerate European economies ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic would thus be decided on political lines. Countries deemed by the leftist political caste to have violated certain democratic principles could be denied access to these vital funds or receive a reduced amount. In legal terms, such coercion is called blackmail.

However, the EU has expanded the principle of rule of law to apply to a range of issues, such as how countries treat asylum laws. 

There is little doubt that the new distribution mechanism is specifically designed to put pressure on the few remaining European centre-right conservative governments.

In his statement, Petri Sarvamaa, the European Parliament’s negotiator, stated that the use of EU money will from now on be conditioned by the adherence to the rule of law principles, including the independence of the national judiciary.

Poland has a long-standing dispute with European leaders about their reform of the judiciary and will see such a condition as a direct threat to its sovereignty.

The recent proceedings against Hungary are a reaction to the government of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his decision to toughen their asylum process during the COVID-19 epidemic, requiring asylum seekers to apply for protection while still outside Hungary.

Surrender or else: If the new distribution laws are agreed on, the deadline for the Council to come to a decision about restricting EU funds for rebellious government is three months.

Manfred Weber, the chairman of the European People’s Party, whose former ambitions to become president of the European Commission have been thwarted largely as a result of opposition from the Polish and Hungarian government was particularly instrumental in the success of the agreement.

The original proposal to link EU funds with the rule of law principle is linked to US oligarch George Soros, who in the past had suggested the introduction of such a punitive mechanism against Hungary and Poland. It was revealed that over half the members of the EU parliament is directly or indirectly funded by George Soros foundations.

Hungarian Justice Minister Judith Varga stated in a social media post that the European Parliament should focus on the pandemic, rather than on political, ideological disputes. If they cannot help, they should not hinder member states.

She called it unacceptable that the European Parliament seems to be the problem, rather than the solution in the acceptance of the EU budget, thus hindering help for member states that need it most. She had also called the new distribution mechanism a form of ideological blackmail.

In her post, the Hungarian justice minister hinted to the fact that the European Union’s budget needs to be approved and accepted by all member states unanimously. In its present form, the Hungarian government intends to block it, and signs are emerging that the Polish government will also take a stance against the European Parliament’s agreement. Source