Italy’s co-governing Lega party has rallied behind Viktor Orbán’s administration in Budapest after the European Union announced it was denying over €1 billion in EU funds earmarked for Hungary due to what it described as “violations of the rule of law.”
The funds, originally allocated to support structurally weak regions, were withheld following the EU Commission’s conclusion that Hungary had failed to adhere to several EU standards and fundamental values.
Following infringement proceedings issued against Hungary back in 2022, a larger sum was initially frozen with Brussels demanding that Budapest undertake several reforms to appease the European Commission in order to unlock the funds.
However, the Commission said on Tuesday that the timeframe to provide satisfactory reforms expired at the end of 2024, and because the suspension had not been lifted, the funds are now lost.
“This loss is irrevocable, and Budapest has no right to appeal,” confirmed Anna-Kaisa Itkonen, a spokesperson for the European Commission.
Hungary’s Europe Minister János Bóka expressed outrage over the decision, asserting on Facebook that the Hungarian government had met all the necessary requirements.
“Brussels wants to withdraw the funds that Hungary and the Hungarian people are entitled to for political reasons,” he said.
Coming to the aid of Budapest, Italy’s right-wing Lega party, which rules in coalition with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy (FdI) sharply criticized the action taken by Brussels.
“The cut in European funding for Hungary is a shameful attack on rights, freedom, solidarity, and democracy,” said Paolo Borchia, the Lega’s leader in the European Parliament.
Lega, led by Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, called for protests through the “Patriots for Europe” group in the European Parliament of which both the Italian party and Hungary’s ruling Fidesz are members.
The party emphasized its solidarity with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and accused EU elites of targeting a democratically elected government that does not align with their political priorities.
The move represents the first time a member state has permanently lost funding owed to it by Brussels under the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation; this was introduced at the start of the decade and effectively gives the European Commission the power to withhold monies owed to countries Brussels rules are not complying with EU values.
