Slovakia's stance on the delay of the EU budget and Recovery Fund is unequivocal and shared by all Government parties and constitutional officials, President Zuzana Čaputová posted on social networks following her talk with Vice President of the European Commission for Values and Transparency Vera Jourova on Monday.
Jourova apprised the President of ongoing talks with Poland and Hungary, the two countries that opted to block the EU long-term budget and recovery plan. The talks have brought no tangible progress as of yet. Čaputová pointed out that the responsibility and benefits stemming from EU membership must go "hand-in-hand".
On November 16, Hungary and Poland vetoed the agreement on the 2021-27 EU budget and EU recovery plan worth a total of €750 billion, in protest against the EU's implementing a new legal mechanism to link the drawing of European funds to compliance with principles of the rule of law. The two countries perceive the new legal mechanism as one that is open to political manipulation and would radically limit their national sovereignty.
Source: TASR
