The talks with the European Commission on the release of EU funds to Hungary are “forward looking” and member states are fully open to working out a solution, the justice minister said on Tuesday in Brussels, after the meeting of EU affairs ministers. Speaking to Hungarian reporters, Judit Varga said that while the European Parliament “is putting political pressure on Hungary”, the EC and the member states are seeking a solution within the framework of the rule of law procedure. Asked about criticism over “inadequate” amendment proposals submitted by the Hungarian government to alleviate concerns raised by Brussels, Varga said “it is a tradition of the Hungarian left not to represent Hungary’s interests abroad either”, adding that their representatives are unable to work in unity even in the interest of protecting Hungarian the people.
Regarding the principle that EU decisions should be unanimous, Varga said that, albeit the treaties do not mention the necessity of a veto, they focus on a culture of consensus. She said the veto was a “refuge for countries the size of Hungary to ensure they can represent their basic national interests.”
“The strength of European decision making is in consensus. That is the key to decisions everyone can wholeheartedly back,” Varga said.