EU parliament opens court case over release of funds to Orban government

The release of funds came on the eve of a major decision on Ukraine for which the Hungarian prime minister’s consent was needed (LM Otero/AP)

The European Union has become embroiled in a damaging legal standoff between its legislature and its executive Commission over the release of billions in frozen funds to the government of Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban.

The release of the funds came on the eve of a major decision on Ukraine for which Mr Orban’s consent was needed.