During their three-day visit to Budapest (Monday 14 - Wednesday 16 April), MEPs looked into topics related to the state of <a href="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/topics/en/article/20210325STO00802/eu-values-explained-in-one-minute" rel="noopener" target="_blank">EU values</a>, including the rule of law and fundamental rights - such as independence of the judiciary, checks and balances, media freedom, academic freedom, transparency and anti-corruption measures, the situation of civil society, the rights of LGBTIQ persons and the freedom of peaceful assembly. They met with government representatives, members of the Hungarian National Assembly, representatives of the judiciary, independent and local authorities, unions, liberal professions and stakeholders from civil society across all areas of concern.

Three parliamentary groups (PfE, ECR and ESN) decided not to send their representatives to take part in the mission. Despite this, representatives of five political groups representing different political views, managed to receive a first-hand account of the latest developments. It will help to formulate the Parliament’s stance and communicate it to the Council in the ongoing Article 7 TEU procedure. While the delegation is thankful to the participants of the meetings, it expressed regret that several meetings the delegation requested, with the Government (Prime Minister, Ministers of Justice and of the Interior), the judiciary (Constitutional Court, Curia) and the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights, did not take place.

 

Following the visit, Tineke Strik (Greens/EFA, NL), Head of the LIBE Delegation, said on behalf of the delegation: “The delegation's findings indicate that there are no improvements in comparison with the situation highlighted in the previous resolutions of the Parliament. Moreover, there is a troubling trend of further erosion, including as regards independence of the judiciary, media freedom, academic freedom and critical space for civil society. These developments stand in stark contrast to the values enshrined in Article 2 TEU.

Rule of law in Hungary

LIBE delegation Rule of Law mission in Budapest, Hungary

LIBE rule of law mission to Budapest (Hungary): meeting with Barna György SENYEI, President of the National Office for the Judiciary, and with Tamás LÁNCZI, President of the Sovereignty Protection Office

Press conference by the Members of the LIBE rule of law mission to Budapest (Hungary), chaired by Tineke STRIK (Greens/EFA, NL)

LIBE rule of law mission to Budapest (Hungary): meeting with Barna Pál ZSIGMOND, Deputy Minister at the Ministry of European Union Affairs

LIBE rule of law mission to Budapest (Hungary): extracts from the meetings with the LGBTIQ intergroup of the Hungarian Parliament, with representatives of the Committee on Legal Affairs and with the Committee on European Affairs

LIBE rule of law mission to Budapest (Hungary): meeting with Gergely KARÁCSONY, Mayor of Budapest

LIBE rule of law mission to Budapest (Hungary): extracts from the meeting with representatives of the National Judicial Council

LIBE rule of law mission to Budapest (Hungary): arrival of the delegation, statement by Tineke STRIK (Greens/EFA, NL), head of the delegation and meeting with NGOs and organisations

Press conference LIBE committee delegation to Hungary

Press conference by the members of the LIBE delegation in Hungary

LIBE delegation in Budapest

EP Plenary debate on the threats to fundamental rights in Hungary

Plenary debate - Hungary: threats to rule of law.

Recent legislative changes in Hungary and their impact on fundamental rights: MEPs debate

Recent legislative changes in Hungary and their impact on fundamental rights: opening statements by Adam SZŁAPKA, Polish Minister for European Affairs and Michael MCGRATH, European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, and the Rule of Law

Recent legislative changes in Hungary and their impact on fundamental rights: extracts from the debate

Recent legislative changes in Hungary and their impact on fundamental rights: closing statement by Michael MCGRATH, European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law, and Consumer Protection

Press conference by Tineke STRIK (Greens/EFA, NL), rapporteur, Michał WAWRYKIEWICZ (EPP, PL), Thijs REUTEN (S&D, NL), Fabienne KELLER (Renew, FR) and Konstantinos ARVANITIS (The Left, EL), on the situation in Hungary and the rule of law

Ongoing hearings under Article 7(1) TEU regarding Hungary to strengthen Rule of Law and its budgetary implications: Closing statements by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, and Mathieu MICHEL, Belgian Secretary of State

Ongoing hearings under Article 7(1) TEU regarding Hungary to strengthen Rule of Law and its budgetary implications: MEPs debate

Ongoing hearings under Article 7(1) TEU regarding Hungary to strengthen Rule of Law and its budgetary implications: Opening statements by Mathieu MICHEL, Belgian Secretary of State, and Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice

Meeting of the EP Conference of Presidents: arrivals and roundtable

Joint debate on European Council meetings: extracts from the debate

Breaches of the Rule of Law and fundamental rights in Hungary and frozen EU funds: closing statements by Johannes HAHN, European Commissioner for Budget and Administration and by Peter KULLGREN, Swedish Minister for Rural Affairs and Infrastructure

Breaches of the Rule of Law and fundamental rights in Hungary and frozen EU funds: opening statements by Peter KULLGREN, Swedish Minister for Rural Affairs, Johannes HAHN, EU Commissioner for Budget and by Didier REYNDERS, EU Commissioner for Justice

Breaches of the Rule of Law and fundamental rights in Hungary and frozen EU funds: extracts from the debate

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