FILE PHOTO: Hungary’s parliament convenes for autumn session, in Budapest © Thomson Reuters
Reuters: EU holds back all of Hungary’s cohesion funds over rights concerns
EU holds back all of Hungary’s cohesion funds over rights concerns
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Commission said on Thursday it would hold back all 22 billion euros of EU cohesion funds for Hungary until its government meets conditions related to judiciary independence, academic freedoms, LGBTQI rights and the asylum system.
EU institutions had already decided on Dec. 12 to freeze 6.3 billion euros of the funds until the right-wing and eurosceptic government of Viktor Orban meets an even tougher set of 17 conditions also linked to the judiciary and dealing with corruption at high levels.
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Update #1: The European Union suspends all Cohesion Fund resources for Hungary (Novinite)
Update #2: EU Freezes Nearly €22 Billion in Funds Earmarked for Hungary (Bloomberg)
WNU Editor: According to Bloomberg this is one of the main reasons why this money is not being transferred ….
…. The commission said in a statement that Hungary wasn’t fulfilling the EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights. In particular, it mentioned a so-called “child-protection law” that bans minors being exposed to any kind of portrayal of homosexuality or sex reassignment, which has drawn criticism for restricting the rights of the LGBTQ community.