Germany's Incoming Coalition Pushes for EU Action Against Hungary's Government
Friedrich Merz's coalition emphasizes sanctions over rule of law violations amid ongoing negotiations with SPD.
BERLIN — Germany’s forthcoming coalition government led by conservative leader Friedrich Merz is poised to advocate for the European Union to take stronger actions against member states that contravene foundational principles such as the rule of law.
This initiative appears particularly aimed at Hungary, under the leadership of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, which has faced significant criticism regarding its democratic practices and judicial independence.
Current coalition discussions between Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) have revealed plans to propose measures including the withholding of EU funds and the suspension of voting rights for nations that violate EU core values.
Although Hungary is not explicitly named, the references in draft agreements underscore concerns associated with its governance.
The ongoing negotiations seek to form a working coalition as the parties align their positions on various policy issues, including migration and energy policy.
The agreement highlights a consensus on leveraging existing EU instruments more robustly, including infringement proceedings and potential sanctions against non-compliant countries.
The European Parliament initiated proceedings under Article 7, a mechanism referred to as the “nuclear option,” against Hungary in 2018 over allegations of serious breaches of EU principles.
This process, intended to enforce compliance, has seen limited progress due to divisions among EU member states on how to proceed.
In 2022, the European Commission proposed to block approximately €22 billion intended for Hungary, tied to worries over human rights and legal independence, though later over €10 billion was released, leading to significant criticism.
Further complicating the EU-Hungary relations is Orbán's approach toward Russia, as Hungary has exercised its veto power to impede sanctions against Russian officials.
To navigate Hungary's veto, the incoming German government is set to advocate for changes in voting mechanics within the EU Council.
They aim to promote a shift towards qualified majority voting on critical matters, particularly concerning the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), enabling decisions to be made without requiring unanimous consent from all member states.
In a broader context, the coalition is also planning to enhance Germany’s engagement in EU affairs, notably through the Weimar Triangle – a partnership among France, Germany, and Poland.
Previous tensions under the preceding coalition government hindered productive relations, but Merz has committed to revitalize this alliance as part of a strategic approach to European policy.
The draft coalition agreement also addresses concerns regarding Germany's frequent abstaining from key votes in the EU, which has garnered disapproval from other member states.
Merz aims for a more assertive German position in EU voting processes, although internal disagreements between CDU and SPD regarding voting strategies remain.
The framework for this coalition stems from work conducted by various cross-party groups focused on key policy issues.
Final negotiations are ongoing, with a comprehensive coalition agreement anticipated by mid-April.
This initiative appears particularly aimed at Hungary, under the leadership of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, which has faced significant criticism regarding its democratic practices and judicial independence.
Current coalition discussions between Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) have revealed plans to propose measures including the withholding of EU funds and the suspension of voting rights for nations that violate EU core values.
Although Hungary is not explicitly named, the references in draft agreements underscore concerns associated with its governance.
The ongoing negotiations seek to form a working coalition as the parties align their positions on various policy issues, including migration and energy policy.
The agreement highlights a consensus on leveraging existing EU instruments more robustly, including infringement proceedings and potential sanctions against non-compliant countries.
The European Parliament initiated proceedings under Article 7, a mechanism referred to as the “nuclear option,” against Hungary in 2018 over allegations of serious breaches of EU principles.
This process, intended to enforce compliance, has seen limited progress due to divisions among EU member states on how to proceed.
In 2022, the European Commission proposed to block approximately €22 billion intended for Hungary, tied to worries over human rights and legal independence, though later over €10 billion was released, leading to significant criticism.
Further complicating the EU-Hungary relations is Orbán's approach toward Russia, as Hungary has exercised its veto power to impede sanctions against Russian officials.
To navigate Hungary's veto, the incoming German government is set to advocate for changes in voting mechanics within the EU Council.
They aim to promote a shift towards qualified majority voting on critical matters, particularly concerning the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), enabling decisions to be made without requiring unanimous consent from all member states.
In a broader context, the coalition is also planning to enhance Germany’s engagement in EU affairs, notably through the Weimar Triangle – a partnership among France, Germany, and Poland.
Previous tensions under the preceding coalition government hindered productive relations, but Merz has committed to revitalize this alliance as part of a strategic approach to European policy.
The draft coalition agreement also addresses concerns regarding Germany's frequent abstaining from key votes in the EU, which has garnered disapproval from other member states.
Merz aims for a more assertive German position in EU voting processes, although internal disagreements between CDU and SPD regarding voting strategies remain.
The framework for this coalition stems from work conducted by various cross-party groups focused on key policy issues.
Final negotiations are ongoing, with a comprehensive coalition agreement anticipated by mid-April.
