Hungary’s Orban – demanding money with no strings

Hungary and Poland have stuck a spanner into the EU works and threatened to stop Covid recovery funds getting to member states desperately in need. They have blocked approval of the budget over a clause that ties funding with adherence to the rule of EU law. The two countries have been criticised for violating democratic standards and undermining the independence of courts, media and non-governmental organisations. If passed it could cost them billions of euros in EU funding unless they agree to