Devendra Kumar
The European Union is entrenched in a contentious legal dispute between its legislative and executive branches, revolving around the release of billions in frozen funds to the Hungarian government. The issue stems from allegations of democratic backsliding by Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has been at odds with the European Commission over the matter for years. The Commission, led by Ursula von der Leyen, asserts that it acted within the bounds of EU law in releasing the funds, but the European Parliament disagrees, suggesting a trade-off with Orban’s consent to open EU membership talks with Ukraine.
As the dispute escalated, the Parliament took the unprecedented step of suing the Commission, a move perceived as an unseemly legal fight amidst the campaign for the upcoming EU elections. The Commission has denied any wrongdoing, stating it acted in compliance with EU law, and will defend its decision before the EU courts. Orban’s decision to approve the funds came on the eve of a major EU summit, sparking anger from Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, who accused him of using the veto as “blackmail.”
Critics have questioned the timing of the funds’ release, with the Parliament arguing that it was done in haste, just as Ukraine’s membership talks with the EU were about to begin. However, the Commission maintains that Hungary had furnished sufficient evidence to demonstrate improvements in its rule of law record, necessitating its approval. The Commission’s stance has been met with skepticism by the Parliament, which is now facing an uphill battle in a court case that requires it to prove obvious errors were committed by the executive branch.
Surprisingly, the European People’s Party has come out in support of a court case against the Commission, considering Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s candidacy for a second term. EPP leader Petri Sarvamaa, however, insists that the move is not political but rather a quest for legal clarity and accountability. The dispute highlights the complex and often contentious relationship between the EU’s legislative and executive branches, with the outcome potentially having significant implications for the future of European politics and funding decisions.