Poland and Hungary have both become critics of the European Union with both threatening to veto against the budget and coronavirus rescue package. The two states have threatened to block the vote on the mammoth €1.8trillion (£1.6trillion) budget and coronavirus recovery package for member states next month. Commenting on the future of the two states within the bloc, one diplomat admitted the idea of leaving the bloc has now become more of a possibility for states.
The diplomat told Politico: “It starts to look like the governments in Hungary and Poland have finally decided to turn their backs on the EU and the other member states.
“If they continue to block the EU budget and recovery package, less and less people would actually miss them.”
Both Hungary and Poland have expressed their concern over the link of the EU budget to rule of law proceedings.
In Poland, officials from the ruling Law and Justice Party (PiS), have attacked the EU for how it has treated the state.
Education minister, Przemysław Czarnek, hit out at the EU for tightening laws such as those around abortion.
He told Polish television: “In Europe, we’ve reached a level worse than the Soviet Union and communism.”
In Poland, the ruling party has introduced a series of reforms which has threatened the independence of judges.
Due to this, the EU triggered Article 7 of the Treaty of Europe which allows the bloc to take out proceedings if a member state threatens its values.
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Chancellor, Angela Merkel, put forward plans to link the budget and rescue package to the current proceedings in both Hungary and Poland.
Hungary too has clashed with the EU with prime minister, Viktor Orban being a staunch critic of Brussels.
After speaking to the German Chancellor, Mr Orban said: “I had to tell her that if this regulation drafted by the European parliament and the German presidency were to be accepted – it requires two-thirds majority so we cannot block this – then we have made Soviet Union out of the EU.
“This is not what we wanted, we did not create the EU for having a second Soviet Union.”
EU leaders will meet for a European summit next month in order to vote on the budget and rescue package.
Although states agreed the package during the summer, there is now concern in Brussels both Hungary and Poland may throw negotiations into crisis next month.