On Monday 25 June, the committee on civil liberties of the European Parliament adopted, by 37 votes to 19 with 0 abstentions, the report by Judith Sargentini (Greens/EFA, Netherlands) on the rule of law in Hungary, in which the MEP calls on the Council of the EU to note the existence of a serious violation of European values in the country led by Viktor Orbán.
The report adopted follows a resolution of the European Parliament of May 2017, which triggered, at its level, the infamous so-called article 7 procedure on the rule of law, which has already been launched by the European Commission against Poland.
More than 263 amendments were tabled ahead of this vote on Monday afternoon, notably from the Fidesz party. All Hungarian EPP members of the LIBE committee voted against the report, as did French EPP member Brice Hortefeux, the ECR, the EFDD (with the exception of one member, who voted in favour), and the ENF. Conversely, all of the S&D, Greens/EFA and GUE/NGL members of the committee voted in favour of the report, also supported by eight EPP members, including Carlos Coelho of Portugal and Germany's Axel Voss.
The report by the Dutch MEP reviews all controversial laws that are likely to impinge upon key principles such as the pluralism of the media and the freedom of association, but also mechanisms that may restrict the independence of the judiciary or reduce the rights of minorities, migrants and refugees. A new 'Stop Soros' law, which was adopted on Wednesday 20 June and criminalises the support provided by NGOs to migrants, also prompted reactions from bodies such as the Council of Europe and even the European Commission.
“How long will the EU stand by and do nothing about the attacks upon democracy that are happening in Hungary?”, the MEP asked. She argues that the EU should stand firm against Orbán “to defend not only the Hungarian people, but also our common values of the freedom of expression and the rule of law”.
The resolution adopted also examines the measures taken to limit academic freedom, as seen in the infringement procedure launched by the Commission against Hungary over the law on foreign universities. The report will be put before the plenary in September; to be adopted, it will require an absolute majority of MEPs (376) and two thirds of the votes cast.
This Tuesday 26 May, the Commission will hear Poland on the rule of law and decide on the next steps for the article 7 procedure launched against Warsaw in December. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)