The European Union: The Budget
Sunday, 6 May 2018 - 02:18 pm (CET/MEZ) Berlin | Author/Destination: Knut WingschCategory/Kategorie: General, Editorial, EU blog post series, European Union Reading Time: 40 minutes
(Latest update: 21 August 2022) Now it’s back to business: The European Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources Günther Oettinger has presented the draft of the new EU budget and as we already know: Money can end friendships. This is no different between EU member states than between companies and private persons. However, this is not just an annual plan, but a five-year plan, this time with significantly changed circumstances to the previous plans, so that the negotiations until the unanimous decision-making will be infinitely long.
Some reasons are:
- Brexit: The UK is one of EU’s largest net contributors until the current budget expires (still valid until the end of 2020). As a result, the EU budget is expected to be 12 billion euros lower per year. This shall be compensated in various ways. On the one hand, all EU members shall contribute 1.1% instead of 1% of their GDP per annum in the future. On the other hand, in particular agricultural (-5%) and structural/regional subsidies (-7%) shall be reduced (The Guardian, 13 July 2018: Trump: soft Brexit will ‘kill’ UK’s chances of US trade deal, The Guardian, 13 July 2018: Trump hails Boris Johnson as future PM and attacks Sadiq Khan, The Guardian, 13 July 2018: Donald Trump meets the Queen as protests held throughout UK – live, The New York Times, 13 July 2018: Trump, on His Best Behavior, Heaps Praise on May as ‘Tough’ and ‘Capable’, The New York Times, 13 July 2018: Boris Johnson, Donald Trump and the Rise of Radical Incompetence, The Washington Post, 13 July 2018: Britain greets Trump with protests, ‘Trump Baby’ balloon and The Washington Post, 13 July 2018: Trump denies he said something that he said on a tape everyone has heard).
- At the same time, more funds are to be channeled into EU’s external border security (Frontex is to be upgraded by at least three times the size of its staff) and the further development of the Common Defense Architecture, partly in response to the growing threats to the EU by Russia. After the annexation of the Crimea and warfare in eastern Ukraine, nuclear first strike weapons (Iskander) were stationed in the Kaliningrad region (so that they can reach Berlin) by the Putin regime for the first time since the end of the Cold War (Reuters, 5 February 2018: Russia deploys Iskander nuclear-capable missiles to Kaliningrad).
- The funds for digitization and other terrorism prevention, than the above mentioned, shall become noticeably higher, as well as funds for education and against youth unemployment.
- The disbursement of funds will in future be subject to conditions (common values, the rule of law and solidarity – compliance with the rule of law is particularly targeted here, especially since only a functioning and independent legal system will ensure the controlling of the use of EU funds and sanctions for infringements (corruption, embezzlement, fraud etc.). For this purpose, a tool shall be developed that shall run parallel to the EU budget. The background is that the EU budget must be decided unanimously, while the tools around it are decided by majority vote by the European Commission. Although not explicitly stated, this tool is of course aimed at the states of the entire EU Eastern enlargement and parts of southeastern Europe. Rule of law processes under the current rules are unlikely to be effective, especially since they have to be decided unanimously. The affected countries would have to vote against themselves, which is very unlikely. With the tool mentioned above, this will be much easier in the future, because a majority vote will be suffice. The tool will be in effect from 2021 onwards, together with the new EU Budget. Should Poland or Hungary in particular oppose this, one possibility would be that the net paying countries wouldn’t pay their shares to the EU, but directly to the recipient countries, thereby leaving out Poland and Hungary until they either get back on track or leave the EU. This is maybe the only way to effectively deal with the two problem cases.
This is the initial plan. It will be interesting to see what will ultimately be implemented or how the overall result will look like, because, of course, all the usual suspects have already expressed “concerns, rejections and claims for improvement”. However, with all the expected cackling, one can remain relaxed as an observer insofar as everything will continue as usual even without a new and adopted EU budget, because there is a mechanism for it as well: From 2021 onwards, the budget adopted for the financial year 2020 (minus the UK share) would be the basis and be repeated endlessly over the coming years until a new budget has been adopted unanimously.
The European Union has a budget to pay for policies carried out at European level (such as agriculture, assistance to poorer regions (including those regions in the UK, which mostly voted in favour of the Brexit), trans-European networks, research, some overseas development aid) and for its administration, including a parliament, executive branch, and judiciary that are distinct from those of the member states. These arms administer the application of treaties, laws and agreements between the member states and their expenditure on common policies throughout the Union. According to the European Commission, 6% of expenditure is on administration, compared with 94% on policies.
The EU budget is proposed annually by the European Commission. The proposed annual budget is then reviewed and negotiated by the Council of the European Union (which represents member states’ governments) and the European Parliament (which represents EU citizens). In order for the budget to be finalised, consensus of all member states is required. The annual budget must remain within ceilings determined in advance by the Multiannual Financial Framework, laid down for a seven-year period by the Council (requiring the unanimous approval of every Member State) with the assent of the Parliament. The budget for a year is determined in advance, but final calculations of payments required from each member state are not completed until after the budget year is over and information about revenue and expenditure is available, and correction mechanisms have been applied.
Media coverage: The Guardian, 17 January 2019: MEPs back plans to cut funds for EU states who weaken rule of law, Politico.eu, 16 September 2019: Germany fights to limit EU spending in long-term budget, Politico.eu, 30 October 2019: Commission gives up on EU budget deal in 2019, Politico.eu, 4 November 2019: The EU’s budget tribes explained, European Parliamant, 15 November 2019: EU Budget 2020 conciliation talks suspended, Council of the EU, 18 November 2019: 2020 EU budget: Council and Parliament reach agreement, Reuters, 19 November 2019: EU reaches deal on 2020 budget, boosts funds for climate change, EU borders, Politico.eu, 2 December 2019: EU budget fight heats up, Politico.eu, 6 December 2019: What rich countries get wrong about the EU budget, Reuters, 12 December 2019: EU leaders offer money to reluctant east to push 2050 climate neutrality, Politico, 24 January 2020: Mafia harvest rewards from EU farm funds, Politico, 25 January 2020: Charles Michel calls special summit on EU budget, Politico.eu, 2 February 2020: 15 countries fight to protect EU cohesion funding, Politico.eu, 6 February 2020: EU budget battle joined ahead of summit showdown, Politico.eu, 13 February 2020: ‘Epic battle’ over green farming divides EU departments, Politico.eu, 14 February 2020: 8 takeaways from the new EU budget proposal, The Guardian, 16 February 2020: ‘Fighting like ferrets in a bag’ as EU tries to plug Brexit cash hole, Politico.eu, 18 February 2020: EU budget talks: The essential guide, Politico.eu, 19 February 2020: Merkel: EU budget talks will be ‘very tough and difficult’, Politico.eu, 19 February 2020: Charles Michel plots ‘miracle’ EU budget deal, Politico.eu, 19 February 2020: Top 5 EU budget tricks, Politico.eu, 19 February 2020: EU budget summit: Live blog, Politico.eu, 20 February 2020: Struggle over Rail Baltica spills into Brussels budget fray, Politico.eu, 20 February 2020: Mario Monti: Don’t let the ‘frugals’ rule the budget, Politico.eu, 20 February 2020: Parliament’s EU budget strategy: Go big, then go home, Politico.eu, 21 February 2020: More slumber than numbers at EU budget summit, BBC, 21 February 2020: Talks end amid stand-off between ‘frugal’ and other nations, The Guardian, 21 February 2020: EU summit collapses as leaders struggle to fill €75bn Brexit hole, Gulf Times, 22 February 2020: EU leaders make last-ditch push for budget ‘miracle’, Politico.eu, 22 February 2020: No budging from leaders means no EU budget (yet), Politico.eu, 30 March 2020: EU budget to be at ‘heart’ of coronavirus response, von der Leyen says, Politico.eu, 5 April 2020: EU budget must be geared for coronavirus recovery, says von der Leyen, Politico.eu, 6 April 2020: EU budget won’t be corona-era Marshall Plan, Politico.eu, 8 April 2020: Eurogroup talks to save EU economy gridlocked over credit lines, corona bonds, Politico.eu, 15 April 2020: Von der Leyen calls for ‘huge’ initiative within EU budget, Politico.com, 17 April 2020: EU should back ‘recovery bonds’ in response to coronavirus, says European Parliament, Politico.eu, 20 April 2020: Merkel backs EU bonds to fight coronavirus crisis, Der Spiegel, 20 April 2020: European Commissioner for Financial and Economic Affairs: “The EU Cannot Afford to Get Bogged Down in Past Discussions”, Politico.eu, 21 April 2020: Joint response to coronavirus crisis will benefit all EU countries, Politico.eu, 21 April 2020: EU leaders draft coronavirus recovery plan, Politico.eu, 22 April 2020: If you want a bailout in Europe, don’t use tax havens, Reuters, 23 April 2020: EU’s von der Leyen sees 2-3 year hike in EU budget firepower, Politico.eu, 23 April 2020: If you want a bailout in Europe, don’t use tax havens, Reuters, 23 April 2020: EU leaders agree on need for EU recovery fund, says Merkel after talks, Politico.eu, 23 April 2020: Commission to present budget and coronavirus recovery plan on May 6, France24, 23 April 2020: EU agrees trillion euro Covid-19 rescue deal – but procrastinates on details, NPR, 23 April 2020: EU Leaders Fail To Agree On Coronavirus Economic Recovery Program, The Guardian, 23 April 2020: Coronavirus delivers a ‘moment of truth’ on the meaning of the EU, Irish Times, 24 April 2020: Coronavirus: EU leaders reach agreement on everything but the big stuff, Politico.eu, 24 April 2020: EU leaders back budget reboot for coronavirus recovery, Politico.eu, 30 April 2020: MEPs to Czech PM: Bow out of EU budget talks over conflicts of interest, France24, 27 May 2020: EU Commission proposes €750 billion recovery fund in wake of Covid-19 crisis (congratulations to this sensationally good proposal with a lot of foresight and future orientation or according to the American motto “go big or go home!”), BBC, 27 May 2020: Von der Leyen calls €750bn recovery fund ‘Europe’s moment’, CNN, 27 May 2020: EU plans to raise $825 billion for coronavirus relief. Hard-hit countries need help soon, The Guardian, 27 May 2020: European commission: ‘Defining moment’ as EU executive pushes for €500bn in grants, The New York Times, 27 May 2020: A €750 Billion Virus Recovery Plan Thrusts Europe Into a New Frontier, The Washington Post, 27 May 2020: E.U. proposes $825 billion coronavirus rescue plan giving Brussels power to raise money for first time, BBC, 28 May 2020: EU budget: Who pays most in and who gets most back?, Politico.eu, 11 June 2020: EU leaders deeply divided on recovery budget, Michel tells Parliament, Politico.eu, 16 June 2020: New factions emerge in EU recovery fund fight, France24, 19 June 2020: Merkel urges EU to agree on €750 billion recovery plan by end of July, DW, 19 June 2020: EU leaders hold virtual summit on coronavirus recovery plan, The Guardian, 19 June 2020: Angela Merkel fears economic crisis is being underestimated in EU, France24, 19 June 2020: Divided EU leaders face challenges on Covid-19 stimulus package, Politico.eu, 19 June 2020: In budget summit, EU leaders live up to low expectations, Politico.eu, 24 June 2020: Hey, big spender! EU prepares to splash the cash (it is becoming increasingly clear that it is once again time for big pictures and visions of an integrated EU and that real leaders must courageously go ahead, take the EU population with them, animate them, cheer them up – just as outstanding coaches in team sports have to do it in order to ultimately win the trophy. Because of and through Corona, the EU has once again been “given” a time window for major changes. This means that the most important basic requirements are already in place: money is there, there is general consensus, there is a spirit of optimism right up to impatience, and there is pressure to change for years. There is a lot to do, but it can be taken as a very positive challenge because it means work for everyone. What does it start with? Development clear specifications and requirements for the individual departments (economy, education, social issues, environment, digitization, EU defense etc.). After that, only one thing is missing, namely the starting shot! It is actually very simple and only needs to be done), The Guardian, 29 June 2020: Poland should get less from Covid-19 fund due to rights record, claim EU member states (rightly so. As the Poles claim that they are a Christian nation (according to their reactions on the migration crisis, they don’t even have the slightest idea what Christian values are), they should know the biblical “eye for an eye” concept pretty well), Politico.eu, 29 June 2020: Merkel’s Dr. No gets his toughest mission yet, DW, 2 July 2020: Germany takes helm of EU presidency, Merkel urges resolve on virus recovery plan, Politico.eu, 3 July 2020: European Parliament leaders in Spanish spat, Politico.eu, 4 July 2020: EU budget rules to come back after crisis: Dombrovskis, Politico.eu, 7 July 2020: Why the recovery fund won’t work, Politico.eu, 9 July 2020: European Parliament clashes with Merkel over rule of law in budget talks, Politico.eu, 9 July 2020: Merkel sees tough road to EU budget and recovery deal, Politico.eu, 10 July 2020: Charles Michel’s small cuts set stage for big EU budget fight, Politico.eu, 10 July 2020: Rutte says Michel’s EU budget plan is an improvement, The Guardian, 12 July 2020: EU leaders are split over coronavirus recovery, DW, 13 July 2020: German Chancellor Angela Merkel says EU leaders ‘remain apart’ on coronavirus recovery deal, France, 13 July 2020: EU summit may not reach recovery fund deal: Merkel, Politico.eu, 15 July 2020: The coronavirus recovery plan that von der Leyen built, DW, 16 July 2020: Germany finds new coronavirus generosity ahead of EU summit, Politico.eu, 16 July 2020: Live blog: EU summit on budget and coronavirus recovery fund, Politico.eu, 16 July 2020: The EU’s budget fight — by the numbers, DW, 17 July 2020: EU leaders meet for ‘very difficult’ coronavirus recovery talks, France24, 17 July 2020: EU leaders open tortuous talks on controversial Covid-19 rescue plan, BBC, 17 July 2020: EU’s ‘moment of truth’ as leaders seek Covid funding deal, The Guardian, 17 July 2020: After bumps, bows and birthday gifts, EU leaders get down to business, Politico.eu, 18 July 2020: EU leaders call it a night after Dutch block in budget talks, Irish Times, 18 July 2020: EU member states at loggerheads over fund in ‘moment of truth’, DW, 18 July 2020: EU summit: ‘New proposals’ seek way round Dutch roadblock to recovery plan, Politico.eu, 18 July 2020: Live blog Day 2: EU summit on budget, coronavirus recovery fund, The National, 18 July 2020: Deadlock as EU’s Covid-19 bailout summit stretches into second evening, Politico.eu, 19 July 2020: Viktor Orbán: I don’t know why Mark Rutte hates me and Hungary, France24, 19 July 2020: EU summit drags on for third day over controversial Covid-19 rescue plan, DW, 19 July 2020: EU summit: Angela Merkel warns of possible no deal on recovery aid, BBC, 19 July 2020: Coronavirus: Third day of wrangling over huge EU recovery plan, The National, 20 July 2020: EU struggles to agree on recovery deal as global deaths surge, Politico.eu, 20 July 2020: Live blog Day 3: EU summit on budget, coronavirus recovery fund, The Guardian, 20 July 2020: EU leaders in bitter clash over Covid-19 recovery package, France24, 20 July 2020: Macron clashes with Rutte and Kurz at EU summit, The National, 20 July 2020: EU leaders fail to reconcile differences over recovery fund as talks continue, Al Arabiya, 20 July 2020: Coronavirus: EU grapples with ‘mission impossible’ at deadlocked recovery summit, Politico.eu, 20 July 2020: EU leaders see path to budget-and-recovery deal, France24, 20 July 2020: EU leaders deadlocked in talks over Covid-19 recovery plan, Politico.eu, 20 July 2020: Why the EU can’t agree on anything, France24, 20 July 2020: Dutch PM Mark Rutte, the thrifty europhile holding Europe hostage, Politico.eu, 20 July 2020: Live blog Day 4: EU summit on budget, coronavirus recovery fund, CNN, 20 July 2020: EU’s future at stake as tempers fray over recovery fund, The Guardian, 20 July 2020: EU Macron seeks to end acrimony as pandemic recovery fund summit enters fourth day, France24, 21 July 2020: EU leaders agree landmark 750 bn euro recovery deal (in the light of the previous, unworthy monkey business of the “stingy four” and the “new Eastern bloc”, one can hardly speak of a success. A lot of porcelain has been smashed unnecessarily and this has damaged the image of the EU internationally. Only people who have no idea how important the EU really is to their allotment gardens can act so unintelligent), BBC, 21 July 2020: EU agrees €750bn virus recovery fund, The Guardian, 21 July 2020: EU Leaders seal deal on €750bn Covid-19 recovery plans, France24, 21 July 2020: EU leaders adopt Covid-19 rescue package after marathon summit, BBC, 21 July 2020: Coronavirus: EU leaders reach recovery deal after marathon summit, Politico.eu, 21 July 2020: Toward an ever closer imperfect union, CNN, 21 July 2020: EU leaders have reached an agreement on a $858 billion coronavirus stimulus package, France24, 21 July 2020: It’s a ‘deal’ as EU leaders end marathon summit with historic rescue package, Politico.eu, 21 July 2020: EU leaders agree on €1.82T budget and coronavirus recovery package, France24, 21 July 2020: EU rescue deal: ‘The most important moment in the life of our Europe,’ says Macron, The New York Times, 21 July 2020: E.U. Adopts $857 Billion Stimulus to Fight Coronavirus Recession, The Washington Post, 21 July 2020: E.U. leaders agree to $859 billion stimulus package, Politico.eu, 21 July 2020: POLITICO’s guide to the EU budget deal, The Guardian, 22 July 2020: With its recovery deal, is the EU finally starting to act like a unifying force?, Arab News, 23 July 2020: Why EU’s historic breakthrough is a major milestone, Politico.eu, 24 July 2020: EU summit insults and rubbish superheroes, Politico.eu, 24 July 2020: EU says landmark budget deal adds pressure on UK in Brexit talks, Politico.eu, 24 July 2020: Charles Michel, the budget deal and the art of the terrace tête-à-tête, France24, 25 July 2020: EU recovery plan deals a blow to popular Erasmus exchange programme, Politico.eu, 25 July 2020: The EU budget and recovery deal — in charts, The National, 26 July 2020: How much will the EU’s ‘historic’ new deal change life in Europe?, The Washington Post, 26 July 2020: Is Europe finally coming together?, Politico.eu, 29 September 2020: Poland, Hungary to set up rule of law institute to counter Brussels (of course, no extreme right-winger worldwide ever lived a law abiding life ever, even though they expect it from everyone else. The autocrats from the “new eastern block” are a bunch of weirdos and, on top, using the term “double standard” shows the full scale antisemitism in the east, by trying to equate themselves to the persecution of the Jews – typical brownshirt BS), The Guardian, 30 July 2020: Can Germany now hold the European team together?, Financial Times, 9 August 2020: National budget rules to remain suspended next year, Brussels says, Politico.eu, 18 September 2020: Poland joins Hungary in threatening to block EU’s budget and coronavirus recovery package (surprise, surprise .. that the EU treaties allow offenders to determine their own punishment is somewhat remarkable), DW, 29 September 2020: Hungary’s Orban calls for removal of EU Commissioner Vera Jourova, The Guardian, 29 September 2020: German compromise on releasing EU funds ‘caves in to Viktor Orbán’, Politico.eu, 30 September 2020: Poland and Commission clash over official accused of harassment at EU body, Politico.eu, 30 September 2020: Live blog: European Council summit
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DW, 2 October 2020: Opinion: This isn’t how the EU increases its international influence, Reuters, 5 October 2020: EU budget rules to remain suspended in 2021: Commission, Politico.eu, 9 October 2020: As EU debates rule of law, Norway’s already making offenders pay, Politico.eu, 13 October 2020: Poland threatens to veto EU budget over rule of law (no problem. As a countermeasure, Brussels can stop all payments of development aid to Poland. As a result, the Polish economy will collapse within two years. Congrats, Kaczyński. Well done), Politico.eu, 20 October 2020: Parliament set to climb down in EU budget fight, DW, 21 October 2020: EU agriculture policy: What are the bones of contention?, DW, 21 October 2020: Opinion: EU fails to introduce real agricultural reform, Politico.eu, 30 October 2020: Cash clash and coronavirus lockdowns: Budget talks head into November, Politico.eu, 9 November 2020: Orbán threatens to veto EU budget, recovery fund over rule of law (that’s easy to solve. The payments to Poland and Hungary will be frozen until the matter is resolved to create enough time for renegotiations. In the meantime, the other states will receive the agreed funds in return for agreeing to the rule of law clause. The EU must clearly oppose the constant attempts of blackmail from the EU’s eastward expansion and south-east Europe, if only in the interests of its own ability to act), Politico.eu, 10 November 2020: Council and Parliament reach deal on EU budget, Politico.eu, 10 November 2020: EU budget deal: What you need to know, DW, 16 November 2020: Poland and Hungary veto EU budget plan, BBC, 16 November 2020: EU budget blocked by Hungary and Poland over rule of law issue (the main question is how one can take Poland and Hungary out of the disbursement processes and freeze disbursements in such a way that it continues to run normally for the other EU states, while Poland and Hungary gain time to find out whether they want to remain in the EU or to leave. Such a process can take years. Years during which the Polish and Hungarian governments would have to explain to their people why they had ruined their countries and given up democracy in favor of kleptocracy), The New York Times, 16 November 2020: Hungary and Poland Threaten E.U. Stimulus Over Rule of Law Links, Politico.eu, 16 November 2020: Hungary and Poland block EU coronavirus recovery package, NPR, 17 November 2020: Hungary And Poland Block EU Budget With Pandemic Relief Funds For Hard-Hit Nations, DW, 17 November 2020: Germany remains optimistic after EU budget veto, Politico.eu, 17 November 2020: EU’s €1.8T game of chicken over budget and coronavirus fund, DW, 19 November 2020: Hungary, Poland hold EU hostage over budget (the EU25 should think much more about how to get rid of Hungary and Poland (possibly also Slovenia) as quickly as possible. The easiest way to get there would be to completely stop the payment of EU funds to the two countries, both from the Corona aid fund and from the budget, while excluding them from all decision-making processes. Poland would be bankrupt within a few months, the leadership of which will then lead the mock battle over alleged German war reparations, but to do so would have to terminate all contracts with Germany and de facto split up Poland in order to create the necessary basis and Hungary’s leadership has been in Putin’s pocket for years which is why it has wanted to cause the EU the greatest possible damage for years. In addition, Orban’s ramblings about Hungary as an alleged “freedom fighter” can then come true. At the same time, one has to wonder how much his voters must be blinded when they confuse Orban’s autocratic kleptocracy with freedom), Politico.eu, 19 November 2020: Hungary and Poland must back down in EU budget fight, says Romania’s PM, France24, 20 November 2020: ‘We will work relentlessly to find the solution’: EU’s Sefcovic on rule of law crisis, Politico.eu, 20 November 2020: EU will eventually resolve budget deadlock, Hungary’s Orbán says, France24, 20 November 2020: EU co-operation crisis: Hungary, Poland veto EU budget over rule of law, DW, 21 November 2020: Opinion: What role will the EU play in foreign affairs?, DW, 26 November 2020: Hungary, Poland vow to veto EU COVID recovery fund mechanism, Politico.eu, 26 November 2020: Hungary and Poland escalate budget fight over rule of law, Politico.eu, 27 November 2020: Europe: Caught between a rule-of-law fight and a hard Brexit, Politico.eu, 30 November 2020: Merkel says ‘all sides’ must make compromises to break budget deadlock, The Guardian, 1 December 2020: Von der Leyen Hungary and Poland should take EU budget row to court, The Guardian, 1 December 2020: An effective response to Europe’s fiscal paralysis, Politico.eu, 2 December 2020: Von der Leyen threatens EU recovery fund without Hungary and Poland (very good approach. The EU should even go further and organize the budget until 2027 without Poland and Hungary. This would mean that both countries could think about whether they want to continue to belong to the EU by 2027 – of course without receiving the previous, lavish support from Brussels, which in Hungary alone finances 50% of all infrastructure measures. Poland and Hungary are the largest net recipients of Brussels development aid payments. Their populations will certainly react enthusiastically to the complete failures of their national leaderships if they are missing several 100 billion euros in their budget over the period), DW, 2 December 2020: Poland and Hungary gamble on funding with EU budget veto, Politico.eu, 3 December 2020: Poland blinks first ahead of showdown at the EU budget corral, DW, 4 December 2020: Viktor Orban: Hungary will stick by EU budget veto threat (hopefully it stays that way. The money that Brussels doesn’t spent on Hungary and Poland can be spent on meaningful projects in other EU states instead), Politico.eu, 4 December 2020: Viktor Orbán rejects rule of law compromise idea, DW, 8 December 2020: Poland, Hungary face growing calls to drop EU budget veto, DW, 9 December 2020: Hungary’s budget veto leaves Orban isolated, France24, 9 December 2020: Poland, Hungary accept German EU budget offer as ‘D-Day’ approaches, DW, 10 December 2020: EU breaks deadlock on budget, coronavirus recovery fund, Politico.eu, 10 December 2020: Europe’s existential crisis, France24, 11 December 2020: EU reaches landmark budget deal with Hungary and Poland, Politico.eu, 11 December 2020: EU leaders move toward sanctioning Turkey, The Guardian, 11 December 2020: Poland Rule of law fears remain despite EU compromise, Politico.eu, 11 December 2020: EU leaders demand banking union progress, NPR, 11 December 2020: EU Ends Standoff, Moves Forward With Budget And Coronavirus Relief Fund, Politico.eu, 15 December 2020: Jourová: EU won’t use rule of law powers in ‘activist’ way, Politico.eu, 17 December 2020: EU top court gears up for rule-of-law battle (of its life), Politico.eu, 18 December 2020: EU recovery fund deal may get money flowing in summer, Politico.eu, 22 January 2021: Baltics threaten to hold up EU coronavirus recovery fund over rail project, Politico.eu, 8 February 2021: Brussels’ recovery bet: Tying funds to structural reforms, DW, 10 February 2021: European Parliament passes €672.5 billion COVID recovery fund, Brussels Times, 10 February 2021: European Parliament approves €672.5 billion recovery fund, Al Arabiya, 12 February 2021: EU seeks to disperse $900 bln in recovery funds before the end of summer, DW, 11 March 2021: Poland and Hungary file complaint over EU budget mechanism, Politico.eu, 11 March 2021: Hungary and Poland to Brussels: See you in court, Politico.eu, 15 March 2021: Polish political crisis over EU pandemic recovery fund, Irish Times, 17 March 2021: Irish share of €5bn EU Brexit fund would be slashed by French proposals, Bloomberg, 26 March 2021: German Court Temporarily Holds Law on EU Covid Recovery Fund (hard to believe that, after Poland and Hungary have been calmed down and support the special budget, now of all people those, who made sure that a Nazi party sits in numerous Landtag parliaments and in the Bundestag, are allowed to file an EU-hostile complaint with the Federal Constitutional Court), Politico.eu, 26 March 2021: Constitutional complaint against EU recovery fund filed in Germany, DW, 21 April 2021: Top German court tosses objection to EU coronavirus recovery fund, DW, 22 April 2021: EU economy ‘on crutches,’ warns ECB chief Christine Lagarde, Politico.eu, 28 April 2021: How will the EU repay the billions to fund Europe’s recovery?, Politico.eu, 29 April 2021: Recovery fund slalom: 5 things to know about Europe’s relief package, DW, 10 May 2021: France in preelection push to soften the eurozone’s budget rules, Politico.eu, 28 May 2021: Agriculture reform talks break up without agreement: EU officials, France24, 1 June 2021: European Union to launch Covid-19 recovery plan in June, Irish Times, 1 June 2021: Extra €3.5bn spend to jumpstart Covid recovery to be announced, DW, 1 June 2021: EU’s first public prosecutor’s office starts operating (European Public Prosecutor’s Office), France24, 1 June 2021: New European Public Prosecutor’s Office joins EU ‘Justice League’, Politico.eu, 9 June 2021: Commission threatens to sue Germany over EU law supremacy dispute, Politico.eu, 9 June 2021: European Commission declares war on German arrogance, DW, 17 June 2021: Germany: Top court rejects AfD lawsuit on COVID recovery fund, Politico.eu, 22 June 2021: Draghi is ‘certain’ that parts of recovery fund are here to stay, DW, 23 June 2021: EU launches coronavirus stimulus program, Politico.eu, 25 June 2021: EU seals deal on major agricultural policy reforms, Der Spiegel, 12 July 2021: Dealing with Europe’s Autocrats: It’s Time to Cut Funding for Orbán, DW, 13 July 2021: EU approves first stage of COVID rescue plan, Politico.eu, 15 July 2021: It’s Germany vs. Italy in standoff over top finance job, Politico.eu, 22 July 2021: Europe’s human rights court: Polish system deprived barrister of fair trial, Politico.eu, 22 July 2021: How the Zoom revolution will transform the Brussels bubble, Euronews, 23 July 2021: ‘Norway owes us’, says Hungary, after Oslo suspends aid in NGO row (great move by Norway. The EU should follow suit), Politico.eu, 23 July 2021: Hungary loses Norwegian funds as rule-of-law concerns intensify, Politico.eu, 5 August 2021: Austria digs in ahead of the EU’s deficit battle, DW, 6 August 2021: Poland should not stay in EU ‘at all costs,’ says minister (good riddance!), Politico.eu, 6 August 2021: Polish minister: Poland should not stay in the EU ‘at any cost’, DW, 7 August 2021: Poland set to back down in EU legal row, Politico.eu, 7 August 2021: Poland on brink of backing down in EU legal scrap, DW, 15 August 2021: EU and Poland battle it out over the rule of law, The Guardian, 17 August 2021: Poland Warsaw backs down in row with EU over disciplining judges, DW, 17 August 2021: Poland notifies EU it is closing disciplinary chamber for judges, Politico.eu, 20 August 2021: Polish region sticks with anti-LGBTQ+ resolution despite threat of losing EU cash, Politico.eu, 30 August 2021: EU threatens to block some Czech payments over conflict-of-interest spat, Politico.eu, 31 August 2021: Poland’s top court postpones a decision on the constitutionality of EU law, France24, 7 September 2021: EU seeks penalties on Poland over reform threatening judicial independence, The Guardian, 7 September 2021: Poland: Government risks fines for flouting a European court order, Politico.eu, 7 September 2021: Brussels calls for Poland to be fined for disregarding rule of law order, Politico.eu, 9 September 2021: Hopes of EU fiscal reform on the rocks after pushback from eight capitals, The Hill, 27 September 2021: Some Polish regions reverse ‘LGBT-free’ status after EU funding threat, Politico.eu, 28 September 2021: Polish regions beat a retreat on anti-LGBTQ+ resolutions, Politico.eu, 1 October 2021: Commission pushing Poland to accept rule of law milestones in recovery plan, Politico.eu, 8 October 2021: Explained: What bombshell Polish court ruling means for EU, The Times, 8 October 2021: Poland ‘risks EU exit’ for defying Brussels over laws, Politico.eu, 8 October 2021: Polish ruling puts Ursula von der Leyen under pressure (the EU-hostile PiS was elected by a majority and thus the majority of Poles chose their foreseeable fate themselves. The only worrying thing is that investors have not yet looked for replacement locations, as they are threatened with a very unpleasant awakening in Poland), The Guardian, 8 October 2021: Poland: Brussels vows swift response to country’s ruling against EU law, DW, 9 October 2021: Hungary: Orban signs resolution supporting Polish court ruling (it’s about high time to cut off Poland and Hungary from any economic aid flow from Brussels), Politico.eu, 9 October 2021: Viktor Orbán backs Poland in EU law spat, Politico.eu, 11 October 2021: After slapping down top EU court, Poland asks for its help, Irish Times, 11 October 2021: Polish ruling represents far greater threat to the EU than Brexit, Politico.eu, 12 October 2021: Why the rule of law matters, DW, 14 October 2021: Germany’s Angela Merkel receives Spain’s Carlos V European Award, Politico.eu, 14 October 2021: If the Commission won’t act on rule of law, the Parliament will, Politico.eu, 15 October 2021: Merkel cautions EU: Talk to Poland, Hungary before cutting funds, Politico.eu, 18 October 2021: Polish PM warns of ‘dangerous’ EU effort to control members, The Guardian, 19 October 2021: Poland: Prime minister escalates war of words with EU over rule of law, Politico.eu, 19 October 2021: Ursula von der Leyen, Mateusz Morawiecki clash in European Parliament, The Times, 19 October 2021: EU threatens to strip Poland of voting rights in legal supremacy row, Politico.eu, 19 October 2021: Warsaw and Brussels wage no-win battle over rule of law, Irish Times, 19 October 2021: EU ready to fight back against Polish attack on bloc’s legal order (Parliament and the Commission have now shown more than enough forbearance with Poland. Now is the time to take action. First freeze all payments to Poland and then withdrawal the voting rights. Warsaw then has time to think about the pros and cons of a Polexit, while the EU can devote itself to other issues), BBC, 19 October 2021: Polish PM accuses EU of blackmail in law row, DW, 19 October 2021: Polish leader blasts EU over rule of law dispute, France24, 19 October 2021: Polish PM accuses EU of ‘blackmail’ in escalating dispute over rule of law, Politico.eu, 19 October 2021: Brussels restarts its fiscal governance debate, CNN, 19 October 2021: EU warns Poland it will pay for challenging common law, Politico.eu, 20 October 2021: EU Parliament preps legal action against Commission over ‘failure’ to act on rule of law , Politico.eu, 20 October 2021: The future of Europe is at stake in the fight for Germany’s finance ministry, The National, 21 October 2021: EU law row with Poland dominates Brussels summit, The Guardian, 21 October 2021: EU summit: Merkel calls for compromise amid row over Polish ECJ snub, Politico.eu, 21 October 2021: In EU leaders’ toolbox: Many wrenches, few quick fixesPoland’s challenge to EU law a ‘slap in the face’, Taoiseach says, DW, 21 October 2021: EU stands firm in the face of Polish defiance, Politico.eu, 21 October 2021: Poland’s ‘Russian roulette’ with the EU, The Times, 25 October 2021: Poland warns EU against starting ‘third world war’ in row over justice reforms (the Polish government is one big freak show, but not the funny type of freaks. These knee jerk gave up on universial rights and the independence of judges, and therefore are fully responsible for alle consequenzes coming from Brussels, including freezing the budget. It’s high time to create a mechanism to kick out “members” like that, who are in the real world full blown EU hostil. They clearly don’t belong to the Union), DW, 25 October 2021: EU calls Polish PM out for ‘war rhetoric’, Politico.eu, 26 October 2021: Europe’s next rule of law problem: Angela Merkel, Politico.eu, 26 October 2021: Marine Le Pen aims for Budapest boost from Orbán meeting, France24, 26 October 2021: France’s far-right leader Le Pen backs Hungary’s Orban, lambasts EU, The New York Times, 26 October 2021: Poland’s Heartland Would Rather Keep E.U. Money Than Break With Bloc, DW, 27 October 2021: EU fines Poland €1 million per day over judicial reforms (long overdue, but still just a start. The EU will have to come up with a lot of measures and mechanisms to better and lastingly protect the EU from right-wing and left-wing nationalist attacks from within the EU states), France24, 27 October 2021: EU court fines Poland $1.2 million per day as rule-of-law row escalates, BBC, 27 October 2021: Poland told to pay €1m a day in legal row with EU, CNN, 27 October 2021: EU’s top court fines Poland 1 million euros a day over judiciary spat, Politico.eu, 27 October 2021: Poland hit with record €1M daily fine in EU rule-of-law dispute, The Guardian, 27 October 2021: Poland: Country fined €1m a day over controversial judicial changes, Irish Times, 27 October 2021: Poland accuses EU of blackmail over €1m daily fine (just as ridiculous as typical PiS speech. No wonder that many inside and outside Poland would like to see the Polexit happen as soon as possible), The Times, 27 October 2021: EU dither is allowing Putinism to take hold, Politico.eu, 28 October 2021: Brussels offers Poland a bitter pill to get its recovery funds, Al Arabiya, 29 October 2021: EU parliament sues European Commission over inaction on the rule of law, Politico.eu, 29 October 2021: Parliament sues Commission for not using new rule-of-law power, CNN, 29 October 2021: European Parliament sues Commission over ‘failure’ to apply rule of law powers, Politico.eu, 19 November 2021: Brussels takes step toward rule-of-law penalty process with Poland, Hungary, Politico.eu, 20 November 2021: Commission questions Hungary and Poland on corruption, judiciary, Politico.eu, 2 December 2021: EU power to cut funds over rule-of-law concerns is legal, top EU court adviser says, The Guardian, 2 December 2021: European Union: ECJ adviser backs rule-of-law measure in blow to Poland and Hungary, Der Spiegel, 9 December 2021: The One-Man State: Viktor Orbán and the Fall of Democracy, DW, 10 December 2021: Germany’s new foreign minister makes inaugural visit to Poland (instead of wasting more time and, above all, more German tax money on Warsaw (even after several decades of German development aid worth billions, it is not clear that Poland will ever become a democratic state that would be viable on its own), Baerbock and Scholz would instead do well by visiting EU partner countries such as e.g. Italy, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Denmark and Ireland, and to stay in good contact with the United Kingdom. The Visegrád states are not EU partner states, and not only when it comes to issues relating to the rule of law and democracy, and they do not even want to be. Just like the African recipients of German and EU development aid, they are only concerned with tapping the funds with which the heavily corrupted elites fill their pockets. These are not new findings, but practice that has been known for years. Nevertheless, the EU only initiates puppet theater instead of taking a clear line against it and a) blocking all budget funds from Brussels for the east and b) withdrawing voting rights. And what if the Polexit and/or Hungarexit should result from this? All the better. Hungary’s leadership has been deep in the pockets of Moscow and Bejing for years. It remains to be seen from which anti-EU source the Polish leadership is being lubricated. In either case, it would not be a loss for the EU. This is already clear from the public discussions about Polexit and Hungarexit (after Orbán and his severely corrupt gang, following the Russian example, are illegally snatching one company after the other and even increased the pace in the process, the likelihood of an exit is increasing. Why Brussels didn’t took action there isn’t really understandable. Perhaps the exit shall be supported in this way): the markets and/or the euro exchange rate react positively to this outlook. No wonder, because after all, the EU would benefit from being able to invest money sensibly and in a future-oriented manner, instead of having to send it to the Eastern Bloc to just burn money without real results, which is then no longer available for sensible expenditure and investments. After all, it will be funny when Polish nationalists have to dissolve the country in order to be able to assert imaginary reparation fantasies in a court at all. It will of course be a huge failure for them, while Germany and Russia grow unexpectedly. At the same time, that would be a nice signal to the rest of the world, namely that states can pursue a successful expansion policy even without wars: all that is required is a bunch of simple-minded nationalists on the other side. That would be a very nice knowledge gain for the international community), Politico.eu, 13 December 2021: Leaders of Poland, Germany call for ‘swift’ solution to Warsaw’s rule of law row with EU, Politico.eu, 20 December 2021: Poland rakes in the carbon cash it pretends to hate, DW, 21 December 2021: Orban says EU can’t force Hungary to change immigration rules, Politico.eu, 21 December 2021: Hungary won’t abide by EU court ruling on migration, Orbán says, Politico.eu, 21 December 2021: Zemmour’s money man at the heart of the European Commission, The Guardian, 22 December 2021: Poland: Brussels launches legal action over country’s rulings against EU law, Politico.eu, 22 December 2021: Brussels starts legal action against Poland over ruling questioning primacy of EU law, France24, 23 December 2021: Macron, Draghi call for reform of EU fiscal rules to allow more investment, Politico.eu, 23 December 2021: Macron and Draghi jointly call for softer fiscal rules, Politico.eu, 27 December 2021: Next year will be critical for the rule of law, Politico.eu, 29 December 2021: Poland digs in over mine spat with EU, The New York Times, 3 January 2022: The E.U. Is Poised to Get Tough With Hungary, The New York Times, 3 January 2022: How the E.U. Allowed Hungary to Become an Illiberal Model, DW, 19 January 2022: EU to withhold funds for Poland over Turow coal mine, Politico.eu, 20 January 2022: Brussels to Warsaw: Pay up!, DW, 3 February 2022: Poland: President seeks closure of court body to end EU row, Politico.com, 3 February 2022: Ceasefire in Polish-Czech coal mine border dispute, Politico.eu, 7 February 2022: Poland takes half step back to cool legal conflicts with EU, DW, 8 February 2022: Turow coal mine: EU to withhold Poland funds over dispute, Politico.eu, 8 February 2022: Commission moves to cut Polish funds over unpaid coal mine fine, Politico.eu, 9 February 2022: Good news for France and Italy as Brussels looks to keep debt rules on ice in 2023, Politico.eu, 11 February 2022: France’s Bruno Le Maire tells Germany not to ‘close doors’ on EU budget reforms, Radio Free Europe, 13 February 2022: For The First Time, Orban Hints At Hungary Leaving The European Union (he left the EU a long time ago without leaving, so that he could continue to be fed by Brussels. Putin will be pleased that the first country will voluntarily return to the Soviet Union), Politico.eu, 14 February 2022: EU power to slash funds will face fresh fights after court verdict, France24, 16 February 2022: EU’s top court ‘on right track’ to cut funds to Poland, Hungary for violating democratic rights, CNN, 16 February 2022: EU top court paves way to cut billions to Poland and Hungary, Politico.eu, 16 February 2022: The EU got its legal OK to cut funds. Now what?, The Times, 16 February 2022: EU court dismisses challenge by Hungary and Poland in ‘rule of law’ row, Politico.eu, 16 February 2022: Rule of law: Viktor Orbán should brace for impact, Politico.eu, 4 April 2022: Orbán win sets stage for more EU battles on democracy and Russia (the EU has every opportunity to effectively contain Orban, above all to block all budget funds. Putin’s war of aggression against Ukraine shows where it leads when you approach Eastern Bloc tyrants with appeasement. Does it have to come to that with Orban?), The Guardian, 4 April 2022: Victory of Putin ally Orbán in Hungary may trigger freeze on EU funding, DW, 4 April 2022: Orban needs to change course in Hungary, Politico.eu, 4 April 2022: Hungarian election wasn’t a fair fight, observers say, The Guardian, 4 April 2022: Orbán’s victory in Hungary adds to the darkness engulfing Europe, France24, 5 April 2022: Orban’s Hungary risks EU funding cut over corruption fears, Politico.eu, 5 April 2022: Poland ‘not there yet’ in backtracking on judicial reforms to get EU cash, The Guardian, 5 April 2022: European Commission launches rule-of-law disciplinary procedure against Hungary, Politico.eu, 5 April 2022: Poland vetoes EU tax reform again, dismisses ulterior motives (another country for the list of “tax havens”), France24, 5 April 2022: Top EU body launches procedure to strip Hungary of funding over corruption, Politico.eu, 5 April 2022: EU launches process to slash Hungary’s funds over rule-of-law breaches, DW, 5 April 2022: What impact does the EU’s rule-of-law mechanism have?, Politico.eu, 27 April 2022: In major first, EU triggers power to cut Hungary’s funds over rule-of-law breaches, Irish Times, 3 May 2022: The EU is set to move against Orban’s illiberal democracy. But will it work?, Politico.eu, 3 May 2022: Draghi: EU needs ‘pragmatic federalism,’ more integration, DW, 4 May 2022: Hungary risks further isolation by refusing to support EU oil embargo, DW, 9 May 2022: EU leaders tell Ukraine: ‘Future of Europe is also your future’, France24, 9 May 2022: Macron calls for ‘European political community’ that could include Ukraine, UK, Politico.eu, 10 May 2022: EU drafts plans to send cash to Hungary if Orbán agrees to Russian oil ban, Politico.eu, 10 May 2022: Still a big noise: Orbán flexes power over EU oil ban, The Guardian, 10 May 2022: EU: Hopes for ban on Russian oil despite Hungary comparing plan to ‘nuclear bomb’, Politico.eu, 10 May 2022: It’s time the EU plays hardball with Hungary, Politico.eu, 11 May 2022: EU tensions grow over Russian oil ban as Hungary demands exemption, Politico.eu, 13 May 2022: EU considers shelving ban on Russian oil as Hungary blocks sanctions (time to cut off even more EU subsidies to Hungary. After all, Orbán shows every day that Hungary does not belong in the EU, but would rather love to be part of the Soviet Union 2.0 yesterday than tomorrow), Politico.eu, 14 May 2022: Orbán won’t make Hungarians pay war price (the entire article assumes that Orbán would make any constructive contributions to the EU at all. But this is not the case. He is a declared enemy of the EU and democracy, and at the same time one of Putin’s most loyal friends. The only reason why Orbán has not yet initiated Hungary’s exit from the EU is that he and his deeply corrupt regime want to continue to make personal gain from EU development aid from Brussels. It is high time to put all development aid budgets for Hungary on hold and at the same time to suspend all voting rights. There is no quicker or more effective way of showing the Hungarian population where the autocrat Orbán is steering their country), The Guardian, 26 May 2022: Poland: Controversial legal body condemned by EU removed (wait and see what nonsense they will come up with instead), Politico.eu, 26 May 2022: Poland’s parliament partially rolls back judicial changes to get EU cash, Politico.eu, 26 May 2022: EU’s Russian oil ban hangs by a thread as mood darkens in Brussels, Politico.eu, 1 June 2022: EU gives Poland route to pandemic recovery cash, DW, 1 June 2022: Poland: European Commission unlocks COVID funding, Politico.eu, 1 June 2022: The Czech and Hungarian fondness for emergency powers, France24, 2 June 2022: Poland must enact judicial reforms to receive Covid aid, says EU chief (that’s a bad joke. The PiS government is already working on a replacement for the disciplinary body for judges. No one should put any trust in this government. They are anti-democratic and anti-EU), Politico.eu, 1 June 2022: Hungary throws new spanner into EU sanctions talks, Politico.com, 2 June 2022: Orbán wins again as furious EU envoys take church patriarch off Russian sanctions list (one should simply hand over the “new Eastern Bloc” to Putin. They’re useless anyway), Politico.com, 2 June 2022: Amid Commission rebellion, von der Leyen defends Polish recovery cash plan, Politico.eu, 15 June 2022: 4 EU countries to state concerns on Polish recovery plan approval, Politico.eu, 15 June 2022: The EU’s future lies in its east, Politico.eu, 17 June 2022: Hungary’s tax veto leaves EU adrift and Bruno Le Maire burned, Politico.eu, 11 July 2022: Italy backs out of race for bailout-fund chief ahead of key vote, Politico.eu, 12 July 2022: Orbán’s tax veto is an attack on social Europe, DW, 15 July 2022: EU Commission sues Hungary over LGBTQ law, Politico.eu, 15 July 2022: Commission takes Hungary to court over LGBTQ+ rights, media freedom, DW, 19 July 2022: Hungary: Lawmakers back anti-European Parliament bill (so, now they have legislated that Hungary is no longer a democracy and will not adhere to the democratic rules and values of the EU that Hungary once recognized and thus gave itself. This means that the exclusion of Hungary from the EU institutions (withdrawal of voting rights) can at least be carried out more effectively and the withdrawal of any EU (aid) funds can be permanently justified), The Guardian, 24 July 2022: Hungary: Orbán sparks outrage with attack on ‘race mixing’ in Europe (former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calls him a friend and of course a “true friend of Israel”. That says everything about the two figures that you need to know about them), Politico.eu, 25 July 2022: Hungary’s Viktor Orbán faces growing backlash over ‘race mixing’ comments, Times of Israel, 25 July 2022: Far-right Hungarian PM Orban decries European ‘race-mixing,’ sparking outrage, Haaretz, 26 July 2022: From Hungary to Israel, Racism Doesn’t Stop With the Far Right, Times of Israel, 26 July 2022: Holocaust survivors call out Hungary’s Orban for ‘stupid and dangerous’ race speech, BBC, 26 July 2022: Viktor Orban adviser Hegedus resigns over ‘pure Nazi’ speech, Politico.eu, 26 July 2022: ‘Nazi’ talk: Orbán adviser trashes ‘mixed race’ speech in dramatic exit, France24, 27 July 2022: Holocaust survivors condemn race remarks by Hungary’s Orban, CNN, 27 July 2022: Hungarian leader Viktor Orban’s ‘mixed race’ speech condemned by ex-aide and Holocaust victims’ group, Politico.eu, 29 July 2022: Orbán: Hungary to strike new gas deal with Russia this summer (nothing says louder “we don’t belong to the EU”, than doing deals with Russia’s dictator, except saying it, as Orban recently did), Times of Israel, 30 July 2022: EU parliament leaders slam Hungary’s Orban for ‘openly racist’ remarks, Politico.eu, 30 July 2022: Von der Leyen condemns Orbán’s ‘mixed-race’ speech, Politico.eu, 2 August 2022: Poland digs in over EU rule-of-law pressure, The Atlantic, 4 August 2022: Why Viktor Orbán’s Racism Matters in the U.S., NPR, 4 August 2022: Hungary’s autocratic leader tells U.S. conservatives to join his culture war, The Washington Post, 4 August 2022: Amid ‘mixed race’ speech furor, Orban echoes Trump in Dallas, The Economist, 4 August 2022: Explainer: Why is the American right obsessed with Viktor Orban?, Politico.com, 4 August 2022: Orbán gets warm CPAC reception after ‘mixed race’ speech blowback, The Guardian, 4 August 2022: Viktor Orbán: Hungary’s PM urges Christian nationalists in Europe and US to ‘unite forces’ at CPAC, CNN, 4 August 2022: Trump and Orban set to take stage in Texas as activists gather for conservative confab, BBC, 5 August 2022: Hungary’s Viktor Orban fires up Texas conservatives, CNN, 5 August 2022: Why conservatives gave a big welcome to leader who suppressed Hungary’s democracy, Politico.eu, 8 August 2022: Poland warns it will turn cannons on the EU in rule of law dispute (it’s time to stop the ultra-nationalist Polish conspiracy crackpots by halting all EU development aid payments and stripping voting rights, as should have been done with Hungary long ago), The Guardian, 9 August 2022: Poland: Government threatens to turn ‘all our cannon’ on EU in rule-of-law row, Politico.eu, 10 August 2022: EU rule-of-law clash helps Poland’s government (if the ultra-nationalist, right-wing extremist and historical revisionist PiS really wants to make Poland a plaything for Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, they can, shall and should do so – but outside of the EU and NATO), Haaretz, 14 August 2022: Holocaust Comparisons, Soros Conspiracies Dominate U.S. Republican Messaging, The Guardian, 14 August 2022: Hungary: Viktor Orbán’s grip on courts threatens rule of law, warns judge, Politico.eu, 15 August 2022: Poland’s central bank chief warns of German designs on Polish territory (the PiS government and its party clowns, like Adam Glapinski, is one bad joke and full of antisemitic conspiracy believers. One would actually have to laugh about it if the losers didn’t cost us so much development aid money that could be spent much more sensibly elsewhere. On the other hand, it is unlikely that the PiS government will ever put Poland back on the road to democracy. It will remain an ultra-nationalist autocracy, so that Brussels will soon be able to stop all payments to Warsaw and withdraw all voting rights, so that infrastructure measures in the south and south-east of the EU can be financed and the admission of other Balkan countries, Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia can be prepared), DW, 18 August 2022: The cost of Orban’s pro-Russian policy offers nothing to win but much to lose, Politico.eu, 23 August 2022: The EU and its hybrid regimes are poisoning each other.
This is the analyses of the EU budget proposal from 2018. Let’s wait an see how the EU budget 2021 – 23027 will really look like:
EPRS_IDA(2018)625148_EN
The linked articles and contributions reflect the views, opinions and analyzes of the respective editorial offices, authors and journalists that we do not adopt.
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47244656633_en
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