Hungarian foreign minister hits back at EU funds misuse claims
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In an interview with FRANCE 24, Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto hits back at claims of fraudulent use and mismanagement of EU funds. In November, Hungary agreed to pay a €1.6 billion penalty for alleged mismanagement of European funding. Meanwhile, The New York Times has published claims from a former Hungarian state secretary that PM Viktor Orban used Common Agricultural Policy money to enrich his family and friends. Szijjarto says his government is "ready for any kind of investigation" and claims the former state secretary has "personal" motives for speaking to the media.
Hungary's Szijjarto also speaks of British PM Boris Johnson as a "personal friend" and says Budapest is not preparing to use its veto to block EU sanctions on Russia, despite PM Orban’s open sympathies for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Presented by Catherine Nicholson
Produced by Isabelle Romero, Johan Bodin and Stéphane Bodenne
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