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The new German government is calling on the EU to increase pressure on Hungary, Politico reports.
According to a draft coalition agreement, the CDU/CSU and SPD propose suspending funding for countries that violate the rule of law and stripping them of voting rights in the EU.
Although the document does not mention Hungary by name, journalists note that it is the clear target, given longstanding accusations of restricting press freedom and judicial independence.
Germany also supports expanding qualified majority voting in the EU Council on foreign policy and sanctions, aiming to bypass Hungary’s veto, which Budapest has used to block measures against Russia.
It looks like Germany is taking a stronger stance on enforcing EU values and addressing Hungary’s repeated use of its veto power. The push to withhold funding and strip voting rights from rule-of-law violators aligns with ongoing EU discussions about conditioning financial aid on democratic standards.
If the EU moves toward qualified majority voting in foreign policy, it could significantly weaken Hungary’s ability to block sanctions and other key decisions, especially concerning Russia. However, such a shift would require treaty changes or at least a consensus among member states, which could be difficult to achieve.
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