On Sunday, the European Union executive put forth a proposal that would withhold 7.5 billion euros from Hungary. In a first such case, 27 EU countries will have three months to decide on the proposal and no country can exercise a veto power. The reason given for the withholding of funds was corruption. However, the country has also been given a chance to remedy its alleged corruption. Hungary pledged that it would meet all its commitments so that it can unlock the EU funds.

In a meeting held on September 18, Commissioner Johannes Hahn, who is in charge of Budget and Administration, said that the amount being withheld was 65 percent of the commitments for three operational programs under the cohesion policy. Poorer European countries get EU cohesion funds so that they can promote growth as well as employment in their country.

In April, the European Union triggered a rule of law mechanism process against Hungary that allowed the bloc to impose financial sanctions on states in the EU “to protect the budget” if any member state is said to have breached the core values of the EU.

The Commission will consider a compromise as Hungary has committed itself to making the necessary changes and has been sticking to the proposed deadlines. However, there is some opposition as some members believe that Hungary has been given a lot of leeway by the Commission.

Three days earlier, Members of the European Parliament (MEP) called Hungary a “hybrid regime of electoral autocracy.” They said that the rule of law had not been followed in the eastern European country under the Prime Minister Victor Orban.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government has faced criticism from the past twelve years. It has been accused of undermining the checks and balances that are required from countries in the bloc. The Orban government has also reportedly influenced the judiciary, restricted rights of migrants, the LGQBT community and women, curbed media, NGOs and more.

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