Germany’s new government to push EU crackdown on rule-breaking states like Hungary

Politico reported the information.

The conservatives of incoming German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and their potential coalition partners, the Social Democrats, have agreed to push for the EU to suspend funding and revoke voting rights for countries that violate key EU principles, such as the rule of law. This is stated in a draft coalition agreement reviewed by the publication.

While Hungary is not mentioned by name, the draft clearly refers to the EU’s most notorious offender — accused for years of dismantling democratic norms, restricting press freedom, and undermining judicial independence.

“Existing protective instruments, from infringement proceedings and the withholding of EU funds to the suspension of membership rights such as voting rights in the Council of the EU, must be applied much more consistently than before,” negotiators from the conservative Merz and SPD blocs wrote in the draft EU policy agreement.

German parties are currently negotiating a coalition and must finalize key principles before assuming office.

The plan to push the EU to pressure countries like Hungary is part of a broader set of agreements covering migration policy, coal phase-out, and social spending.

• Poland’s presidency of the EU Council is trying to persuade the Hungarian side not to block the opening of the first negotiation cluster on Ukraine’s membership in the European Union.