EU’s ‘unprecedented challenge’ from Poland, Hungary: Guardian

The article, penned by Jon Henley, the paper’s European affairs correspondent, said that the two former communist countries, whose “integration [into the EU in 2004] was seen as critical to the bloc’s post-cold war advance” now face the risk of “becoming its first rogue states.”

“How Europe deals with members deliberately flouting the core western liberal norms and values it strives to embody – social tolerance, respect for free speech, an independent judiciary – could dominate 2018 far more than Britain’s exit,” Henley said in the article, which was published on Wednesday.

Earlier this month, Brussels triggered Article 7 of the EU Treaty against Poland over changes to the judiciary by the country’s ruling conservatives.

The European Commission has also referred Hungary to the European Court of Justice over Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s "ongoing assault on political freedoms.”

Both governments have also met with criticism for refusing to take in refugees.

“With unassailable poll ratings, weak and divided oppositions and their countries’ economies booming,” the governing parties of both countries are “in no mood to back down,” Henley wrote.

The formal warning to Poland could potentially lead to the country losing its EU voting rights, but that “is seen as unlikely because it requires a unanimous vote of all member states – including, Hungary, which has already said it would not back it,” he added.

“But calls to make EU funds – of which Poland and Hungary are among the largest net recipients – conditional on upholding the rule of law will certainly grow louder,” Henley said, adding that countries such as Germany, France and the Nordic states support such calls.

(aba/gs)

Source: The Guardian, PAP