At the conclusion of the plenary debate which took place on April 10, Parliament adopted on Wednesday (399 votes for, 117 against and 28 abstentions) its final resolution of the current legislature evaluating democracy in Hungary. The text denounces serious deficiencies linked to the judicial system, the fight against corruption and conflicts of interest, freedom of the media, fundamental rights, the constitutional and electoral system, the functioning of civil society, protection financial interests of the EU and respect for the single law. market principles.
Concerns about the Sovereignty Protection Office
Examining the latest cases of “persistent systemic and deliberate violation” of EU values in the country, Parliament condemns the adoption of the Law on the Protection of National Sovereignty and the creation of the Sovereignty Protection Office (SPO ). The SPO has “extensive powers and a strict system of monitoring and sanctions, which fundamentally violates democratic norms”. […] and infringed several EU laws,” says Parliament. MEPs call on the Commission to ask the Court of Justice of the EU for interim measures to immediately suspend the law, as it affects the principle of free and fair elections.
An incomprehensible decision by the Commission
In light of all this, MEPs deplore the Commission’s decision to release up to €10.2 billion in frozen EU funds, which has prompted Parliament to appeal to the Court of Justice of the European Union. Recent revelations disclosed by the former Hungarian Minister of Justice should lead the Commission to revoke the payment of European funds, the text indicates. Furthermore, MEPs underline that it is incomprehensible to release funds citing the improvement of the independence of the judiciary, while funds covered by different European laws remain blocked due to persistent shortcomings in this same area.
Need to protect European institutions
MEPs reiterate the need to determine whether Hungary has committed “serious and persistent violations of EU values” under the more direct Article 7(2) procedure instead of the Article 7(1) process that the Parliament launched in 2018 and which remains blocked in the Council. They also fear that the Hungarian government will not be able to credibly fulfill its Council Presidency duties in the second half of 2024 and once again call for a comprehensive mechanism to protect EU values.
Originally published in The European Times.
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