Germany Urges Swift EU Accession for Western Balkan Countries
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has issued a compelling call for the expedited integration of candidate countries from the Western Balkans into the European Union
The Hungarian parliament adopted on Wednesday a legal amendment aimed at strengthening the independence of the judicial system, at the suggestion of the right-wing government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, DPA reported.
The law aims to clear the way for the release of EU funds. Brussels has currently suspended funding as it accuses Hungary of corruption and violating the rule of law.
The Central European country has been a member of the EU since 2004. Orban came to power in 2010 and his rule was marked by a transition to authoritarianism, DPA points out.
The amendment adopted yesterday aims to allow the release of €13.2 billion of EU cohesion funds through a series of measures.
The law restores most of the powers to the independent National Judicial Council, which it lost to the government-backed National Judicial Service as a result of previous reforms.
It is also planned to restore the power of judges to turn to the Court of Justice of the European Union when they have doubts about the legality of court decisions affecting European law. Orban's government had taken away this power.
AFP recalls that in December the European Commission froze almost 22 billion euros of cohesion funds for Hungary for the period 2021-2027, saying that Budapest does not meet European standards for the rule of law.
"Parliament adopted amendments to Hungarian justice laws in line with the agreement with the European Commission," government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs wrote on Twitter.
"Hungary has already fulfilled its commitments regarding the administration of justice," Justice Minister Judit Varga said on Facebook. "We expect Brussels to pay the European funds owed to Hungary," she added.
The European Commission also withheld Hungary's access to €5.8 billion in pandemic recovery funds.
Brussels has long been concerned about the potential misuse of EU funds and corruption in the country and has imposed a strict roadmap consisting of 27 measures.
Further reforms are needed to unlock the remaining frozen EU funds.
Follow Novinite.com on Twitter and Facebook
Write to us at editors@novinite.com
Информирайте се на Български - Novinite.bg
We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!
Chinese President Xi Jinping is embarking on a six-day tour of Europe amidst escalating trade tensions with the European Union and concerns over China's support for Russia. The trip, Xi's first to the continent since 2019, includes visits to France, Serbi
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has issued a compelling call for the expedited integration of candidate countries from the Western Balkans into the European Union
French President Emmanuel Macron has ignited controversy by calling for France's nuclear arsenal to be integrated into the European defense discourse
Brussels has called upon 15 prominent companies, including Lidl, Coca-Cola, and L'Oréal, to halt their advertising campaigns in pro-Kremlin media outlets across Bulgaria
European Commissioner for Internal Affairs, Ylva Johansson, has highlighted the pressing need for increased labor migration in the European Union
The European Parliament has voted to impose a €10,000 limit on cash payments within the European Union
UN Happiness Report: Bulgaria's Astonishing Leap in Rankings
Bulgaria: 3 Regions With Lowest Life Expectancy - EU Report 2022