Shortcomings in the judicial system, conflicts of interest, threats to media freedom and fundamental rights: the European Chamber has approved by a large majority a very harsh resolution on the ongoing hearings regarding the procedure of Article 7 of the Treaty concerning Hungary to strengthen the Rule of law, and its budgetary implications. Only i […]
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Deficiencies in the judicial system, conflicts of interest, threats to media freedom and fundamental rights: the European Chamber has approved by a large majority a very harsh resolution on the ongoing hearings regarding the procedure of Article 7 of the Treaty concerning theHungary to strengthen the rule of law, and its budgetary implications. Only the ID groups voted against, with the delegation from Leagueand of Ecr, of which it is part Brothers of Italy. All other groups voted in favor. The European Parliament, we read in the text, “expresses dismayed for the persistent, systematic and deliberate violation of democracyof the Rule of law and rights fundamentals in Hungary, for which the Hungarian government is responsible.” Furthermore, the European Chamber “emphasizes that respect for the values enshrined in Article 2 TEU has significantly deteriorated in Hungary since the activation of the procedure referred to in Article 7, and expresses deep regret that the lack of a ‘action decided by the Commission and the Council has contributed to the collapse of democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights in the country, transforming it into a hybrid regime of electoral autocracy, according to the relevant indicators.”
At the conclusion of the plenary debate on 10 April, Parliament adopted the resolution with 399 votes in favour, 117 against And 28 abstentions. Examining the latest cases of “persistent systemic and deliberate violation” of EU values in the country, the Parliament condemns the adoption of the Law on the Protection of National Sovereignty and the establishment of the Sovereignty Protection Office (SPO). The SPO has “extensive powers and a rigid system of surveillance and sanctions that fundamentally violates standards of democracy and breaches multiple EU laws,” the Parliament says. In the resolution the MEPs ask the Commission to in turn ask the Court of Justice of the EU provisional measures to immediately suspend the law, as it affects the principle of free and fair elections. In light of all this, MEPs deplore the Commission’s decision to unblock up to 10.2 billion euros of frozen EU funds, which pushed Parliament to appeal to the Court of Justice of the EU. The recent revelations leaked by the former Hungarian Justice Minister should lead the Commission to revoke the disbursement of EU funds, we read in the text. Furthermore, MEPs point out that it is incomprehensible to release the funds citing improvements in the independence of the judiciary, while funds covered by several EU laws remain blocked due to continuing shortcomings in the same field.
The deputies reiterate, forwarding. the need to determine whether theHungary has committed “serious and persistent violations of EU values” and express fears that the Hungarian government will not be able to credibly fulfill its duties as Presidency of the Council in the second half of 2024. This is why they are once again calling for a global mechanism to protect European values.
