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The EU Is Letting Hungary and Poland Erode Democracy

https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/09/27/eu-hungary-poland-orban-democracy-measures-elections-migrants-media/

Brussels must take harsher measures against ruling parties in Budapest and Warsaw if it’s serious about upholding democratic norms.

The EU Is Letting Hungary and Poland Erode Democracy

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I'm sort of torn on this. I really like the idea of all member states having an equal say on things, but at the same time Hungary and Poland's fairly extreme stance is holding the whole bloc back.

Is there a democratic way to solve this? I'm not aware of one.

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TheThirdAccount

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But since the first emergency covid package we do have a method to withhold that sweet, sweet EU funding, and we have been using it to increasingly good effect. We need to do more of this and more often instead of just threatening.

It does not require a unanimous vote which is why it works. This is literally the only good thing the Dutch PM ever pushed in his entire life (and he probably stood to make some money out of it ...somehow).

Illecors

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While I agree, it somehoe feels dirty. Blackmail through finance will probably always work, but carrying the sentiment from my other comment - I feel like it will backfire at some point, on some other issue.