Hungary’s €19.2 billion in EU funds could remain frozen for years, thanks to the European Union’s persistent meddling and double standards.
According to a report from EU Observer titled, “Billions of EU Funds to Remain Frozen as Hungary Fails to Reform,” top EU officials continue to block Hungary’s rightful funds, citing vague concerns that remain unaddressed by the Hungarian government. Didier Reynders, the outgoing European Commissioner for Justice, bluntly confirmed that the funds will stay frozen for the foreseeable future, referring to unresolved “conflicts of interest” in Hungary—whatever that means.
One of the EU’s primary sticks for blocking these funds is Hungary’s Child Protection Act, which, according to the EU, clashes with their progressive values. This law aims to safeguard children from LGBT indoctrination in schools and prohibits gender reassignment surgeries for minors. The EU, of course, insists that this law constitutes an attack on the “rule of law” and European society at large. At a hearing in Luxembourg, the European Commission’s lawyer slammed Hungary for its “anti-LGBTQ law,” declaring it a serious breach of EU standards.
But the EU’s interference isn’t limited to Hungary’s policies on children or sexuality. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has long used Hungary’s strict border control measures as a pretext to freeze funds. In a speech earlier this year, von der Leyen made it clear that Hungary’s €20 billion would remain frozen until Budapest opens its borders—a thinly veiled reference to Hungary’s refusal to buckle under the pressure of mass migration. While this might be a policy that aligns with the interests of many European citizens, the EU continues to punish Hungary for standing firm on border security, a policy that is becoming increasingly popular across Europe.
Ironically, the EU’s hypocrisy is laid bare when one looks at the case of Poland. After the left-liberal Donald Tusk came to power in Poland, the country’s frozen EU funds were promptly unfrozen. Tusk, in typical EU fashion, has been lauded for his efforts to “restore the rule of law”—despite his government’s control of public media, imprisonment of political rivals, and blatant disregard for court orders. Yet, Hungary’s decision to protect its borders and its children remains a sticking point, and the EU, ever eager to wield financial power as a political weapon, has no intention of backing down.
It’s clear: the EU isn’t concerned with “rule of law” or “democracy”; it’s using its financial muscle to bully countries that don’t toe the liberal line. Hungary is simply the latest target in the EU’s ongoing war against sovereignty and common sense. Until there’s a major shift in the political landscape, it seems Hungary’s €19.2 billion will remain locked up, a victim of the EU’s political game.
