Hungary and Poland block EU’s COVID recovery package over rule of law

Hungary and Poland have vetoed the EU’s trillion-euro coronavirus recovery package because they object to linking access to Brussels cash to countries respecting the rule of law.

The rule of law includes democratic values and human rights and Hungary and Poland and any other member state could have their funds cut if the rule of law is not respected.

In July European leaders finally agreed on the amount the EU can spend over the next seven years. This was set at €1.8 trillion — of which €750 billion is for the coronavirus recovery fund, otherwise known as Next Generation EU.

The rest of the money, €1.074 trillion, makes up the EU’s long-term budget, also known as the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).