Advocate General challenges von der Leyen, urges annulment of Hungary fund unfreezing

Brussels – Annul the European Commission’s decision to lift the suspension of EU funds for Hungary and to freeze those resources, Advocate General Tamara Capeta said in her proposed ruling to the Court of Justice, in the dispute between the European Parliament and the European Commission over funding to Budapest. According to the Advocate General, the EU executive “infringed its duty to state reasons” under Article 296 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, “failing to provide any explanation” for the reasons that led to the change of mind and the green light for the disbursement of funds. Furthermore, the Commission failed to “adequately” address the legislative developments that could undermine or offset the objectives of the reforms Hungary had undertaken.