Reuters: “Hungary and Poland dug in their heels on Friday in a dispute with the European Union over efforts to link the disbursement of more than a trillion euros of funds with rule-of-law provisions, dashing tentative hopes that a compromise could soon be agreed. Hungary and Poland have for weeks blocked the release of funds worth a total 1.85 trillion euros ($2.25 trillion) from the EU’s seven-year budget and a post-COVID development fund, cash sorely needed by member states trying to emerge from their coronavirus-induced recession.”

“Warsaw and Budapest, both under investigation by the EU over their push to curb judicial and media freedoms, object to the bloc’s attempt to make the funds conditional on respect for the rule of law and democratic norms. EU diplomats had discussed attaching an explanatory declaration to the funding package to make the linkage more acceptable to Budapest and Warsaw, a move initially welcomed by Poland. But on Friday both countries rejected that initiative. ‘For us, this solution – attaching some statement like a reminder on a sticky note attached on a piece of paper – won’t work,’ Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban told public radio. ‘Hungary insists that these two things should be separated.’ Orban said there was no rush to get an agreement on the EU budget this year, adding: ‘Leave the legal status quo unchanged and everything will go smoothly and quickly.’ Polish spokesman Piotr Muller said Warsaw’s stance on the issue was unchanged.”