The inertia of EU Member States in dealing with Hungary is increasing the deterioration of fundamental rights in the country, Amnesty International warned on Wednesday 11 September, one year after the European Parliament launched the ‘Article 7’ procedure of the Treaty on the respect of the rule of law and before Hungary's hearing by European affairs ministers on Monday 16 September.
“One year after the momentous European Parliament vote to trigger Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union on Hungary for failing to uphold EU founding values, Amnesty International has joined Hungarian organisations to warn EU member states that continuing to ignore ever increasing threats in the country may soon lead to irreparable damage”, the NGO said in a statement.
“Since last year's vote, the Hungarian government has extended its control over the media and the judiciary and continued to silence dissent and intimidate individuals and organisations attempting to hold the government to account”.
After “losing a year to procedural disputes”, EU ministers must finally stop allowing the Hungarian government to run away with their people’s freedoms in the country, the NGO adds, citing as well the situation of LGBT persons or asylum seekers “also vilified by the government, which rejects every asylum application on a semi-automatic basis”. The hearing, organised by the Finnish Presidency, will be as comprehensive as possible, Helsinki promised. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)