The move is likely to exacerbate tensions between the Commission and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orb\u00e1n, who faces the very real prospect of losing power after 15 years in an election slated for 2026. He\u2019s had a turbulent relationship with EU policymakers and fellow governments, which have criticized what they see as his Russia-friendly and authoritarian policies.<\/p>\n
While the EU has taken action against Hungary and already withheld some funding \u2015 and Orb\u00e1n has made life difficult by threatening to block European efforts to sanction Moscow \u2015 the next budget \u201cwill provide for a streamlined and harmonized conditionality system for all EU funds allocated to member states,\u201d according to the document.<\/p>\n
The Commission wants to move away from the current system where \u201cmember states with particular issues could be tempted to shift some investments between programs to avoid being subject to a particular condition,\u201d it states.<\/p>\n
Several EU countries supported tightening the link between the rule of law and funding in their submissions to the Commission ahead of the budget proposal. After its publication, governments will begin negotiations with each other on a final text \u2015 but this is a lengthy process that is not expected to conclude until 2027.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Conditionality Regulation must be applied to all EU funding,\u201d Finland wrote<\/a> in its position paper on the new budget, seen by POLITICO.<\/p>\n