“For the moment we must regard the linking of EU funding to the rule of law as fiction, as the introduction of subjective criteria would contravene the European treaties”, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó told reporters in Budapest on Thursday.

“The laws and treaties that are in effect clearly set down the rights and obligations of member states, and they are the same for everyone”, he said, confirming: “Hungary will not be supporting any proposal that would give anyone the potential to block funding that is due in accordance with the treaties”.

“In the West, there have been several attempts to portray EU funding as something that is due to the countries of Central Europe ‘as some kind of favour’ or as if they were humanitarian aid of some sort”, the Minister complained, explaining: “This is not the case; Central Europe is entitled to these resources because it has opened up its own markets, on which Western enterprises have been able to pocket huge profits”. “This is not a one-way street, everyone must fulfil their commitments”, Mr. Szijjártó said.

He also indicated that the system of objective conditions for the distribution of resources is set down by law, and if someone wants to amends those laws then they should put forward their proposal and conduct the necessary legal proceedings. According to the Minister, plans to introduce subjective criteria would create the capacity to blackmail member states, and that is at odds with the EU treaties.

Mr. Szijjártó also reported on the fact that he is expecting serious disputes on the upcoming seven-year financial framework during the upcoming months, listing agricultural funding among the expected areas of dispute, and indicating that proposals have been put forward concerning the reduction of this funding, but Hungary is on the side of France and is against such a reduction.

The Minister was asked with relation to the fact that the Austrian Government has issued a decision on making the family supplements payable to foreign workers dependent on price levels in the country of residence of their children. He called the step unfair and unjust, citing the fact that foreigners working in Austria must pay the exact same level of taxes and contributions as the Austrians, and accordingly should be entitled to the exact same level of family benefits. “Although Austria is one of Hungary’s important partners and an ally with relation to many important issues, this is a major point of dispute that also affects other countries and pieces of EU law”, he explained.

He also cited as an example the fact that when the British wanted to introduce something similar, the European Commission was quick to take action, and he expects the same in this case.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade justified the rejection of the political declaration adopted in Marrakech with the fact that it is at odds with Hungary’s security interests. As he explained, the statement includes, amongst others, the establishment of new migration routes and the management of migration, as well as the fact that migrants cannot be differentiated based on their legal status. “These all correspond to the position of the African countries”, he pointed out, criticising the fact that with relation to both the Rabat Process and the global negotiations in New York, Europe is “getting in line behind the Africans” instead of protecting its own interests.

He also said that Hungary had made it clear that it will remain a member of the Rabat Process, because it agrees with the original goals that were set down over ten years ago, and which concern the fact that EU funding must be used in Africa in such a way that they reduce and eventually stop the outflow of immigrants.

Mr. Szijjártó was also asked if he expects anything to happen as a result of the fact that Hungary is not supporting EU attempts to curtail Chinese influence, to which he replied that he is not expecting any short-term repercussions. He also pointed out that foreign trade between the 17 countries of Central Europe and China is nowhere near as high as the level of trade between Germany and China, France and China or Italy and China. “It is simply nonsense that they want to force the countries of Central Europe to reduce their own economic interest enforcement capabilities while criticising China for some reason”, he said.

The Minister also said he didn’t regard it as honest behaviour that the prime ministers of many countries were present at the One Belt One Road (China-CEEC) summit, but did not put forward their positions at the time, however now that the Chinese are not present they are quick to put down their opinions in writing.

(MTI)