EU can withhold funds from Hungary, Poland, top court rules

By RAF CASERT
Associated Press

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union’s highest court says the 27-nation bloc can suspend support payments to member states if they breach rule of law principles. The right-wing governments of Hungary and Poland had challenged the EU’s right to take such action. They responded to Wednesday’s ruling by arguing the EU policy lacked a proper legal basis and would fundamentally interfere with their running of national business. Both nations, large recipients of EU funds, have come under increasing criticism over the past few years for veering away from democratic norms with policies such as exerting excessive control over the judiciary, stifling media freedom and denying the rights of LGBT people.