⚖️🇪🇺 EU court adviser calls for annulment of €10.2 billion payment to Hungary

Oneliner

Advocate General Tamara Ćapeta has recommended that the CJEU annul the European Commission's decision to unfreeze €10.2 billion in funds for Hungary, citing unmet rule-of-law conditions. This recommendation follows a challenge from the European Parliament, which argues the Commission acted under political pressure. If upheld, Hungary may need to repay disbursed funds, impacting its financial relationship with the EU. The final court ruling is expected in the coming months, ahead of Hungary's parliamentary elections.

Key points

• Advocate General recommends annulment of the European Commission's decision to unfreeze funds for Hungary.
• The ruling could require Hungary to repay disbursed funds if upheld by the Court of Justice.
• Concerns over Hungary's adherence to rule-of-law conditions remain central to the case.
• The final court decision is expected in the coming months, ahead of Hungary's parliamentary elections.

Links

• ANSA: Avvocato Generale Ue, la Corte annulli l'esborso da 10 miliardi a Budapest - Altre news - Ansa.it
• Politico: Commission should not have given Hungary €10B, says EU top court adviser
• Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung: EuGH-Generalanwältin fordert Auszahlungsstopp für Ungarn
• Euronews: EU court challenges controversial €10.2bn payment to Hungary
• The Guardian: Billions in funding wrongly released to Hungary, says EU court's top adviser
• ANSA: Avvocato Generale Ue, la Corte annulli l'esborso da 10 miliardi a Budapest - Altre news - Ansa.it
• ANSA: EU wrongly unfroze 10 bn euros in funds for Hungary: top court advisor - News - Ansa.it

Facts

• The European Commission initially froze funds to Hungary due to rule-of-law concerns.
• The €10.2 billion was unfrozen in December 2023, coinciding with a critical EU summit.
• The Advocate General's opinion is influential but not binding on the CJEU.
• The final ruling from the CJEU is expected in the coming months.

Quotes

• The Commission may not disburse EU funds to a member state until the required legislative reforms are in force and are effectively being applied. — Tamara Ćapeta
• Should the court follow this reasoning in its final ruling, it would mark a victory for the rule of law in Europe. — Daniel Freund

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