Media: EC blocked 22B euros to finance programs in Hungary

The European Commission will hold back all 22 billion euros of EU cohesion funds for Hungary until its government meets conditions related to judiciary independence, academic freedoms, LGBTQI rights and the asylum system, Report informs referring to Reuters.

EU institutions had already decided on December 12 to freeze 6.3 billion euros of the funds until the right-wing and Eurosceptic government of Viktor Orban meets an even tougher set of 17 conditions also linked to the judiciary and dealing with corruption at high levels.

The 22 billion euros is the amount of EU cohesion funds that Hungary is to get from the EU's long-term budget between 2021 and 2027. They are transfers from the EU meant to equalize the standards of living between the richest and poorest members of the 27-nation EU, paid out mainly as reimbursements for money spent on agreed goals by individual governments.

The 22 billion euros for Hungary are earmarked for programs including education for disadvantaged children, rail transport upgrades, access to broadband and aid for regions affected by coal plant closures.

The decision to hold back the full amount for Hungary was made because the Commission and Budapest signed what is called a partnership agreement which details how money from the EU budget is to be spent, as well as 11 operational programs under the cohesion policy.