Daniel Freund
When I started my mandate in the 🇪🇺Parliament 3.5 years ago, the undertaking was considered hopeless by many. Someone like Orban was unmanageable. The resistance in the Council was too big, Orban too powerful with his veto, and von der Leyen too unwilling to take action. /1
Dec 23, 2022 at 11:54amWeb
Show threadDaniel FreundDec 23, 2022
But we did it! There are now 6.3 billion euros of EU money to the Orban government frozen - another 5.8 billion from the Corona Fund are also being withheld. The reason: massive violations of the rule of law in Hungary. /2
Show threadDaniel FreundDec 23, 2022
This is a groundbreaking success. And it was a gruelling political struggle that I was able to accompany as a Green member of the European Parliament's negotiating team. /3
Show threadDaniel FreundDec 23, 2022
The European Parliament is considered by some to be the weakest EU institution. But in this fight for Europe's values, it has prevailed. In the past years, we have done one thing above all: pressure. We were always one step ahead of the EU Commission. /4
Show threadDaniel FreundDec 23, 2022
Our expert opinions have shown that Orban fulfils all the conditions for EU funds to be cut off from him. We have shown that only a freeze of ALL EU funds to Hungary is appropriate. We have made it clear that the sham reforms in Budapest fall well short of the mark. /5
Show threadDaniel FreundDec 23, 2022
All this before the EU Commission could speak out on the matter. When the silence became too loud, we took the Von der Leyen Commission to the European Court of Justice for inaction in protecting the rule of law. /6
Show threadDaniel FreundDec 23, 2022
I have learned a lot in these years: how important it is that a pro-European majority in parliament sticks together. How important the expertise of civil society is. How central it is that the public knows what is happening in Brussels and what is happening in Hungary. /7
Show threadDaniel FreundDec 23, 2022
We have always made a difference when politics left the negotiating room. When it was open and transparent. You helped to spread information via email + social media. You have signed petitions. You discussed the issue at events and helped to build the necessary public pressure /8
Show threadDaniel FreundDec 23, 2022
I have travelled to Hungary 6 times in the past 3 years. I got input from our partners in the Hungarian Greens and in civil society. I have spoken on stage for the united opposition with the prime ministerial candidate in the election campaign. /9
Show threadDaniel FreundDec 23, 2022
Opposition members, refugees and journalists have told me first-hand what it means when billions disappear and they get hammered for it. /10
Show threadDaniel FreundDec 23, 2022

This is also a success of the Greens - in the European Parliament, in the European member states and in Germany. It is now clear:

Autocrats in the EU will have EU funds frozen. /11

Show threadDaniel FreundDec 23, 2022
A big thank you to everyone who has supported our work on this. Without you it would not have been possible. @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] /12
Show threadDaniel FreundDec 23, 2022
@[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] and many many many many more. /end
Show threadᗰᗩᖇǤᗴ against Putin #NAFODec 23, 2022
@daniel_freund Danke, dass sie sich so engagieren. Ich freue mich, dass ich solche Politiker:innen gewählt habe. 😊
Show threadSamuelJohnsonDec 23, 2022
@daniel_freund 👏Thank you! And 💪🇪🇺
Show threadmimaDec 28, 2022
@daniel_freund Who is among all EU institutions the right one for my restitution case?
Show thread@[email protected]Dec 23, 2022
@daniel_freund
well done…and it so needed to be done
Show threadOmbertoAldobrandeschiDec 23, 2022
@daniel_freund gute Arbeit!
Show threadKim Spence-Jones #FBPEDec 23, 2022
@daniel_freund Congratulations! A great Christmas present. 🙂 It is high time that undemocratic actions reaped consequences.