In a significant development, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have issued a scathing resolution condemning Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's deliberate efforts to undermine the fundamental values of the European Union (EU). With 345 votes in favor, 104 against, and 29 abstentions, MEPs have threatened legal action against the European Commission if further frozen funds are released to Hungary.

The resolution comes a month after the EU Commission unfroze €10.2 billion in cohesion funds for Hungary, allowing the country to request reimbursements. This decision was made following Budapest's implementation of judicial reforms to enhance judicial independence and reduce political interference in the courts. However, the Commission is still withholding €11.5 billion from Hungary's allocated share of cohesion funds, as well as the majority of its €10.4 billion recovery and resilience plan. Prime Minister Orbán has labeled this situation as "financial blackmail."

The European Parliament's resolution firmly expresses the displeasure of lawmakers with the partial release of frozen funds, and it raises the possibility of legal action against the European Commission if further funds are unlocked without fulfilling the necessary criteria. The resolution emphasizes that the Parliament will utilize all legal and political measures at its disposal, acting as the guardian of the Treaties and protecting the EU's financial interests.

In addition, MEPs have instructed their legal service to review the validity of the €10.2 billion decision, arguing that Hungary's judicial reforms do not meet the standard of judicial independence prescribed in EU treaties. Civil society organizations such as Amnesty International and the Hungarian Helsinki Committee have also criticized the reforms, stating that they breach relevant laws and rule of law principles.

The release of the €10.2 billion in funds coincided with the EU leaders' discussion on a €50 billion special fund to support Ukraine's economy until 2027, which Orbán opposed. This led to speculation that the European Commission was making concessions in order to appease Orbán, despite his eventual veto of the fund. As leaders plan to reconvene on February 1st to address the issue again, Hungarian officials have become increasingly vocal in their demands to unfreeze the remaining €20 billion, which is tied to various reforms.

The Parliament's resolution strongly criticizes Orbán's veto, characterizing it as a violation of the principle of sincere cooperation. Lawmakers assert that the EU must not give in to blackmail and compromise its values for the sake of strategic interests.

The resolution also directs criticism towards member states, regretting the Council's failure to curtail the abuse of veto power and advance the proceedings of the Article 7 procedure, which addresses violations of EU core principles. Hungary has been under the first chapter of Article 7 since 2018, and lawmakers urge leaders to trigger the second step, which determines the existence of a serious and persistent violation.

However, the resolution stops short of calling for the most severe measure of Article 7, which would suspend the voting rights of the accused country. Last week, a coalition of 120 MEPs made this request, but it did not make it into the final text of the resolution.

The controversy surrounding Hungary's actions continues to deepen, with liberal MEPs being particularly critical. Prime Minister Orbán took to social media to express his disapproval of the Parliament's resolution, characterizing it as another attack on Hungary.

The situation remains tense as discussions and potential legal action loom, highlighting the growing rift between Hungary and the EU over the adherence to fundamental values.