MEPs quiz the Council and the Commission about their response so far to the democratic backslide in Hungary and Poland. However, despite the deterioration of the situation in both countries over the last few years, the Council has avoided holding a vote to determine whether there is “a clear risk of a serious breach” of the EU’s common values, the next step in the procedure set out in Article 7. Opening statements by Clément BEAUNE, French Minister of State for European Affairs and by Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Values and Transparency.

Strasbourg

plenary session

JOUROVÁ, Věra (EC)

EU - Poland (T)

hearing

EU - Hungary (T)

BEAUNE, Clément (FR)

Ongoing hearings under Article 7(1) TEU regarding Poland and Hungary: opening statements by Clément BEAUNE, French Minister of State for European Affairs and by Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission

Introduction to the debate by the president

SOUNDBITE (French) Cl&eacute;ment BEAUNE, French Minister of State for European Affairs

SOUNDBITE (English) Věra JOUROV&Aacute;, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Values and Transparency