Dublin MEP Ciarán Cuffe says Poland and Hungary should back down in the row with the EU over the budget.

The two countries have blocked the approval of €1.8 trillion which includes a €750 billion Covid-19 recovery package.

Also Read: 2 countries veto EU 2021-2027 budget

They’re not happy about a clause which links access to the cash to respecting EU laws.

The budget, which has been hammered out among EU leaders over the last several months, is due to include the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) itself of just over €1 trillion, and the ‘Next Generation’ recovery fund (a response to the Covid-19 pandemic) of €750 billion.

Speaking to EuroParlRadio, Ciarán Cuffe said the so called ‘rule of law’ mechanism is necessary:

“The bottom line is we are seeing outrageous failures to observe the laws of the European Union in these countries and we need to do something about it. So I think each side is waiting for somebody to blink.

It has to happen. We have to put the money in place and I think Hungary and Poland will have to move in order to release these funds.

The EU budget sets the amount of funding that will be allocated to various EU programmes and policy areas, including the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), over a seven-year period.

Hungary and Poland remain opposed

So far both Hungary and Poland remain steadfast in their opposition to linking the EU budget for Member States to the rule of law.

The prime ministers of both countries have signed a joint declaration opposing any linking of the budget to the rule law of law claiming that it’s an attempt by Brussels to interfere in the autonomy of individual countries.

They are calling on the European Commission to come up with a workable solution that ensures the rights of all Member States.