In a resolution adopted on Thursday 16 January by 446 votes to 178 with 41 abstentions, the European Parliament considered that the situation of the rule of law in Poland and Hungary had deteriorated in recent months.
The day after a long and heated debate on first Hungary and then Poland (see EUROPE 12404/3), MEPs deplored the lack of progress in what is known as the "Article 7" Treaty procedures on respect for the rule of law launched in December 2017 by the Commission against Poland and by the European Parliament in September 2018 against Hungary.
In their text, the elected representatives criticise in particular the arrangements of the hearings conducted by the Council of the EU, which are "neither regular nor structured".
In the case of Hungary, the European Parliament never even participates in the hearings conducted by the EU Council, "while it was Parliament that triggered the Article 7 procedures". The elected representatives therefore reiterate that Parliament should have the opportunity to formally present its reasoned proposal to the EU Council.
The resolution voted on Thursday generally deplores the fact that "the [EU] Council's failure to make effective use of Article 7 continues to undermine the integrity of common European values, mutual trust and the credibility of the Union as a whole".
EPP Group divided on Hungary and Fidesz Party
While the Christian Democratic political family will soon be considering the fate of the Fidesz party of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a number of MEPs from the EPP Group rejected the resolution.
Among them were most of the French elected representatives, opposed to the ousting of Fidesz, but also some Spanish elected representatives for whom the previous day's debate may have raised concerns regarding certain positions on the Catalan question and Madrid's power base. Other EPP members chose to abstain. The leader of the group, the German Manfred Weber, was not present during the votes. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)