Hungary & Poland block MFF/Recovery Plan

Representatives of the governments of Hungary and Poland have blocked the decision on 'Own Resources', which halts agreement on the Recovery Package and the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The European Council will hold a leaders' summit via video conference on the 19th of November. 

Philippe Lamberts MEP, President of the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament, comments:

"The future of millions of Europeans' health, jobs and savings rests on the Recovery Package and the MFF being adopted as soon as possible. Viktor Orbán and Jarosław Kaczyński are holding the Covid recovery hostage just so they can continue to undermine the rule of law and strip away democracy as they see fit. Hungarian and Polish citizens are European citizens and they deserve the support of the recovery plan and to have their fundamental rights protected."

Ska Keller MEP, President of the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament, comments: 

"European governments have spent years kicking the can down the road and ignoring the deteriorating rule of law situation in Poland and Hungary. The German Council Presidency and Presidents Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen must use their influence and diplomatic prowess to encourage the governments of Poland and Hungary to understand the urgency and need for the recovery package. A strong recovery and long term budget will only work if respect for the rule of law is interwoven into any solution that comes out of Thursday's European Council discussions."