The European Union launches a procedure against Hungary in the face of suspicions of corruption
The European Commission has initiated infringement proceedings against Viktor Orban's Hungary.
© Olivier Matthys / POOL / AFP
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The European Commission has initiated infringement proceedings against Hungary.
The Budget Commissioner sent a letter on Wednesday 27 April to which the Hungarian government has two months to respond.
It concerns alleged violations of the rule of law.
An expected procedure.
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With our correspondent in Brussels,
Pierre Bénazet
In vain did
Hungary insist
that the subjects of dissension between Europeans should be set aside because of the external threat posed by the war in Ukraine, but in the end it did not succeed in avoiding the opening of an infringement.
The Commission expresses its "
serious concerns
" about the risks of corruption and conflicts of interest in the award of public contracts in Hungary.
The Rule of Law Commissioner believes that many Hungarian public contracts were awarded when there was only one bidder.
The European Anti-Fraud Office (Olaf) estimates in Hungary the irregularities in the expenditure of European funds at 4% against 0.36% on average in Europe.
An unprecedented procedure
As a result of these allegations of misconduct, the Commission has so far decided to withhold any payment under the Hungarian recovery plan which totals more than €7 billion.
And the budgetary conditionality mechanism carried this Wednesday on the baptismal font is also likely to suspend the payments of ordinary funds from the European budget, such as regional or agricultural aid.
Adopted in 2020, this is the first time that this mechanism, linking the disbursement of EU funds to EU values and fundamental rights, has been implemented after being challenged by Poland and Hungary in the Court of Justice of the European Union.
This is only the beginning of the procedure, but it could ultimately have serious consequences for the Hungarian state budget.
► Also to listen: Decryption - The triumph of Viktor Orban in Hungary
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European Union
Hungary
Victor Orban