#EUFridays by JEF Hungary #28
Hanna Velner
Jun-17-2022
EU leaders back immediate candidate status for Kyiv
On the 113th day after the Russian attack, Scholz came to the capital Kyiv with French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis for a solidarity visit. None of them have been to Ukraine since the Russian invasion in February, and Scholz and Macron have been heavily criticised at home for not having previously visited the war-torn country. The airspace over Ukraine has been closed since the war began almost four months ago, so they had to travel by train.First, Scholz, Macron and Draghi went to the Kiev suburb of Irpin. The city had been badly damaged during the Russian advance in February and March. Similar to neighboring Bucha, almost 300 civilians, some of whom were executed, were found there after the Russians retreated at the end of March.That says a lot about the brutality of Russia's war of aggression, simply out for destruction and conquest-said Scholz. Shortly after their arrival, an air alert was triggered in the Ukrainian capital, which was lifted again after a good 30 minutes. Then Zelensky received the four leaders in the presidential palace in Kiev.The main issue was Ukraine's desire to join the EU. The Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Andriy Melnyk, demanded that Scholz deliver heavy weapons quickly. A French diplomatic official told reporters that as soon as Russia's war ends, a dialogue will be needed between Moscow and Kyiv to "figure out how to build a sustainable peace" with security guarantees for Ukraine and to define the relationship between Ukraine and NATOThe joint visit of the leaders of the three largest EU economies is symbolic, especially ahead of next week's meeting of EU leaders, when they will have to decide whether to grant Ukraine candidate status to join the community.
According to Navracsics, Hungary can agree with the EU on the recovery fund later this year
For the first time since the inauguration of the new Orbán government, Tibor Navracsics is negotiating in Brussels. EU minister to discuss release of recovery funds with European Commission leaders Wednesday through Friday .Hungary ready to compromise with Brussels in order to end long-standing stalemate that prevented the country from accessing the EU coronavirus virus recovery fund. The Commission continues to refuse to approve the Hungarian recovery plan, citing concerns about the rule of law. Concerns relate to corruption, clientelism, public procurement fraud and systemic irregularities in the distribution of public funds across the country.According to his, Hungary and the European Commission will also be able to sign partnership agreements enabling the financing of EU operational programs, including territorial, economic and innovative programs or human resources programs, in the second half of the year. The Minister's optimistic assessment came days after the Commission approved Poland's economic recovery plan, which had been blocked for more than a year because of disputed judicial reforms. The Polish plan has been given the green light, leaving Hungary and the Netherlands as the last two EU countries not to have an approved recovery plan. The Dutch government has not yet submitted its program. However, the country is currently subject to a so-called conditionality mechanism, a novel procedure that could freeze EU funds if the bloc's financial interests are jeopardized.
French parliamentary elections overshadowed by low turnout
Head of State Emmanuel Macron-centrist allies and Left Alliance (NUPES) tie for first round of French parliamentary elections. For the first time since 1997, France's largest left-wing parties have set aside their differences and launched a single candidate. Sunday’s turnout was overshadowed by low voter enthusiasm, with turnout at 47 percent, the lowest since 1958. Based on the mandate estimates, the ruling party could take the lead in the second round next Sunday and remain the strongest political formation, but it may not gain the 289 seats in the National Assembly needed for an absolute majority, which would be essential to continue reforms. “In these troubled times, the choice you’ll make this Sunday is more crucial than ever,” Macron said on Tuesday. The estimated result of the first round of the parliamentary election reflects the reorganization of French political life that began with the election of Emmanuel Macron as president five years ago: traditional parties have weakened and political space has become three-pole around the head of the centrist coalition, the radical left and with the sovereign right. Macron hopes he doesn’t have to deal with a situation where the prime minister is not on the same political side and the president doesn’t have a majority in the assembly.Macron must gain a majority in parliament to have the best possible chance of passing on its policies, including tax cuts, raising the retirement age and reforming the welfare system.