Request for audit of the final destination of EU funds in Hungary

Question for written answer  E-006299/2020
to the Commission
Rule 138
Sabrina Pignedoli (NI)

Hungary and Poland have blocked the 2021-2027 EU budget and the Recovery Fund by vetoing the rule of law clause. This is not a chance piece of ostracism, given that several investigations have shown that the Polish political party PiS has channelled EU funds chiefly to areas where its electoral support is strongest, while in Hungary a substantial share of EU funds is being channelled to members of the prime minister’s own family and to other people very close to his party Fidesz.

In light of this, can the Commission answer the following questions:

What action will it take now that investigations by OLAF and the press have established that a significant share of the EU funds allocated to Hungary is being channelled to Prime Minister Orbán himself, and to his brother, his father, his son-in-law and some of his friends?

Will it consider opening an audit procedure and then, if fraud has occurred, a procedure to cut or suspend EU funding to Hungary, given the far from chance concentration of political and financial interests that are openly breaching the rule of law?