France suggests implementing EU recovery plan without Hungary, Poland. “If Hungary and Poland still refuse to validate things as they stand, then we will have to come to a more radical solution which consists of implementing the European recovery plan for 25 member states,” French Europe Minister Clément Beaune, told weekly Journal du Dimanche on Sunday, ahead of the next European Council meeting on 10-11 December.

An EU diplomat told EURACTIV.com that finding a legal way to bypass Hungary and Poland would potentially lead to a de facto institutional paralysis. “It’s legally feasible but politically risky. Both countries could then follow vindictive policies blocking in practice everything at the EU Council,” the diplomat said.

In an interview with Greek journal “To Vima”, EU Commissioner for Budget and Administration Johannes Hahn said that if Budapest and Warsaw back down, the first EU funds could reach EU countries from January 2021.

“I hope that Poland and Hungary will lift their objections. Businesses, citizens and programmes across Europe are demanding the rapid release of money from both the EU budget and the Recovery Fund,” Hahn said.