Brussels: On Wednesday, the European Union urged Poland and Hungary to strengthen judicial and media independence as well as anti-corruption safeguards, claiming that these improvements are still needed before the two countries can receive billions in aid. 

The evaluation was included in the latest rule of law report from the EU executive, which also offers suggestions for enhancing democracy in each of the 28 member states of the union. These suggestions range from better financial disclosure by public officials to the digitization of public services.

But attention is focused on the two former communist nations, whose governments have been engaged in increasingly heated disputes with the EU over issues such as immigration, human rights, the environment, and democratic principles.

Vera Jourova, the European Commissioner for Values and Transparency, said in presenting the report, "Russia's invasion of Ukraine is yet another reminder that fundamental rights and the rule of law are the pillars of democracy."

Because Putin disliked Ukraine's move toward becoming a democratic state, Ukraine is at war with the Russian president. We can only maintain our credibility if our own house is in order as we support the rule of law in Ukraine."

Budapest's access to 15.5 billion euros in stimulus funds intended to help lift economies out of the COVID slump and to another 36 billion euros intended for Poland, the biggest country in the EU's east, has been restricted by the Brussels-based Commission.

The Commission recommended Budapest strengthen the role of its National Judicial Council, as well as enhancing the independence of media regulatory authorities and adopting a number of other measures to address concerns about judicial independence that "remain unaddressed" in Hungary "comprehensive lobbying reforms

Budapest has stated numerous times over the past few weeks that it was prepared to reach an agreement with the Commission, but the executive has reported that Hungary has not made enough progress. Hungary has long resisted calls to strengthen anti-corruption safeguards. Meanwhile, Orban has made it more difficult for the EU to agree on a minimum global corporate tax or impose sanctions on Russia for its involvement in the conflict in Ukraine. In their dispute over the rule of law, Hungary and the European Commission "are approaching the mutually destructive stalemate stage," according to Eurointelligence.