EU lawmakers urge halt to Hungary funds over rights concerns

A group of Members of the European Parliament has called on the European Commission to suspend all EU funding to Hungary, citing serious concerns over democratic backsliding and violations of the bloc's core values.

In a letter published on May 21, 26 MEPs accused the government in Budapest of further restricting civil liberties, undermining the rule of law, and openly flouting EU legislation and principles, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The appeal comes amid longstanding tensions between the European Union and Hungary’s nationalist prime minister, Viktor Orbán.

The EU has already withheld billions of euros in funds from Hungary over issues such as the treatment of asylum seekers and persistent corruption concerns. However, the signatories of the new letter argue that the situation is deteriorating further.

“There is alarming regression,” the MEPs wrote, highlighting a recently passed law restricting public events in Budapest, as well as judicial reforms seen as weakening the independence of the courts and stifling government critics.

“To continue financing a corrupt regime that openly undermines European values is unacceptable,” the letter reads.

“We therefore urge the Commission to immediately halt all funding to Hungary, using every available legal tool.”

The initiative was spearheaded by the Greens group in the European Parliament but received cross-party support, with signatories from the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), the liberal Renew Europe group, and the centre-left Socialists and Democrats (S&D).

By Aghakazim Guliyev