Poland and Hungary announced veto concerning the EU budget package for 2021-2027. ‘Veto is a used technique, many countries did it – said Member of the European Parliament Jacek Saryusz-Wolski on the air of Polish Radio 24 during an interview with Dorota Kania. The Member of the European Parliament added that Poland is right in this case. ‘We are right because it is unlawful. We are right because it affects our sovereignty and shrinks our democracy. We are right because it is an unacceptable blackmail’ – said.
Member States have not reached the unanimity concerning the EU budget and COVID recovery fund. Poland and Hungary vetoed the budget because of the proposed mechanism concerning the rule of law.
According to Saryusz-Wolski, the opposition threatens as if veto were something extraordinary, but it isn’t. ‘Veto is a used technique. It entitles due to the Treaty. It was used by many different countries, for example by Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte in July. It is not scary – said the Member of the European Parliament.
He emphasised that one of the reasons why Poland did not agree was the fact that it is at odds with Treaties, it is unlawful.
‘European Union wants to impose the arbitrary and discretionary financial sanctions based on vague and blurred criteria concerning the sphere which is neither in the EU’s competence, not the European Commission. Moreover, it affects the arrangements from the 21st of July, which were supposed to be a protective mechanism from corruption and embezzlement. Now it seems like it is a mechanism to manage Poland with the omission of the Polish democracy in the spheres like the judiciary, education culture and so on. This is something different from what we accepted in July’ – emphasised Jacek Saryusz-Wolski.
There is hope since Portugal takes over the presidency in the European Union from Germany on the 1st of January 2021. Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa claims that the EU should give up the mechanism of the rule of law in the budget. Then, Slovenia takes over the presidency in July, whose Prime Minister Janez Jansza is a close ally of the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. In my opinion, there is the time to breathe and to start talks with new leaders on the 1st of January’ – said the Member of the European Parliament.