Brussels: The European Union executive works past the deadline Monday to assess the Hungarian Pandemic Recovery Plan and unlock grants and loans in the middle of the allegations may not meet all the requirements for utilizing funds.
A spokesman for the EU Commission, Arianna Podesta, said that the Commission was still analyzing replies received on Friday and it might take a week to be processed.
“We work constructively to conclude our assessment as soon as possible.
If our assessment requires more weeks than the day, we will propose to Hungary to approve the extension of a 2-month time limit.” Even when EU countries get a green light from the block executive arm to get billions of funds, they will steel need approval from other member countries as well.
The critics say that corruption protection may not be sufficient in Hungarian plans.
The delay was contrary to the background of an increase in disputes between several UE and Budapest institutions, with Brussels claiming to have a setback in the country’s democratic credentials while corruption runs rampant.
The European Union said it would provide extensions on the national recovery plan to ensure the plan that could be applied and precisely rather than the blueprint was not examined correctly due to lack of time.
So far, five members requested extensions, Poland, Estonia, Romania, Sweden and Finland.
This ranges from several weeks to the end of September.
During the assessment period, the UE authority is locked in dialogue with the country concerned and can send observations or ask questions.
This country can provide information or adjust its plans as progress.