Hungary’s prime minister regularly blocks the EU with his veto.
(Photo: imago/ZUMA Press)
Brussels In the dispute over the rule of law, the EU has not allowed itself to be blackmailed by Viktor Orban – at most a little. Most of the withheld EU funding for Hungary remains frozen pending effective anti-corruption measures in the country. At the same time, the Hungarian head of government gave up his veto on aid to Ukraine and the minimum tax. Both are a success for Europe – even if it’s one of those typical Brussels deals.
The fact is: the other Europeans have shown the blockers from Budapest his limits. Under pressure from the European Parliament, the Commission and the Council have taken a hard line. This is not something that can be taken for granted, because up to now the rule has applied, particularly in the Council of Member States: one crow does not peck out the eye of the other.
The fact that the heads of government have now decided for the first time to cut a colleague’s funds if necessary is historic. The prospect of losing the Corona aid entirely at the end of the year forced Orban to give in. The fact that he was still able to get minimal concessions is secondary.
But after the blockade is before the blockade. The next blackmail attempt from Hungary will definitely come. It is therefore high time to limit the principle of unanimity in the Council in order to make it less susceptible to blackmail. The qualified majority should suffice in many policy areas to bring about an EU decision. The federal government, for example, is campaigning for greater reliance on the majority principle in financial matters.
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It is unacceptable that a single head of government can, as has happened in the past few weeks, prevent time-critical and vital decisions such as aid to Ukraine at his whim. If the EU is to become more capable of acting, the governments must start with themselves in the Council.
More: Orban gives up his veto – against minimal concessions from the EU