Brussels, 16/05/2013 (Agence Europe) - The non-governmental organisation Human Rights Watch (HRW) called on Thursday 16 May for the European Union to consider suspending Hungary's voting rights at the EU Council because of its flouting of the law and persistent refusal to follow the European institutions' recommendations.
HRW made the suggestion, which is possible under Article 7 of the EU treaty, as it published a report on Hungary. HRW says recent amendments by the Hungarian parliament to the country's constitution, the fourth change in less than two years, weaken the balance of power, hamper freedom of the press and reduce protection for human rights. The amendments also clash with Hungary's commitments as a member of the European Union and Council of Europe. HRW highlights legislation that discriminates against women, churches, gays and homeless people. It says that the Hungarian media law encourages self-censorship by journalists. Use of Article 7 of the EU treaty has also been demanded at the European Parliament, by the head of the ADLE group, Guy Verhofstadt, for example, but it would require a majority vote within all three EU institutions. In April, EU foreign ministers entered a debate about an alternative mechanism leading to fines and other penalties, but the Commission says this would not be credible without changes being made to the EU treaty. For the moment, the Commission has sent letters to the Hungarian authorities warning them that new infringement proceedings may be opened against them. (SP/transl.fl)