2023-06-01 12:12:00
A resolution casting doubt on Hungary’s suitability for the upcoming EU presidency – it was adopted by an overwhelming majority of MPs.
With a large majority, the European Parliament is demanding a suspension of the Hungarian EU Council Presidency. 442 out of 619 MPs approved a resolution on Thursday that cast doubt on Hungary’s suitability to take over the EU Council Presidency in mid-2024. The resolution has no legal implications. According to Parliament, however, it should send a signal. Austria’s EU parliamentarians voted for it, with the exception of the FPÖ deputies.
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Die European People’s Party, the Social Democrats, Liberals (Renew Europe), Greens and Left voted in favor of the resolution. 144 MPs were against, 33 abstained. The EU mandataries do not see sufficient progress in overcoming Hungary’s problems with the rule of law: They therefore call for the consistent continuation of the ongoing Article 7 procedure for violations of fundamental rights. In addition, EU funds have been frozen due to problems with corruption. Parliament questions whether Hungary is the right Presidency against this background. The Presidency must take the Council’s work on EU legislation forward, ensure continuity of the EU agenda and represent the Council in relations with the other EU institutions.
The resolution condemns the Hungarian government’s anti-EU communication campaigns aimed at diverting attention from its disregard for EU values and its systemic corruption. MEPs are calling on the government to bring its conduct of elections in line with international standards, particularly in view of the upcoming European elections in 2024.
“Returning to the rule of law”
In a broadcast, Parliament stressed that by adopting this resolution it was responding to citizens’ expectations. These demanded the systematic upholding of the rule of law in all EU countries, in particular by protecting European values and the EU budget. “Once again, the European Parliament unanimously expresses its deep concern at the deteriorating rule of law situation in Hungary,” commented Parliament’s standing rapporteur for Hungary, Green Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield. There is no procedure in the EU treaties for removing a country’s rotating presidency. The resolution calls for “an appropriate solution as soon as possible”.
“Our judgment stands up, Hungary is no longer a liberal democracy today. The Hungarian Presidency in the second half of 2024 comes at a crucial time for the political future of the EU. The Council should suspend the Hungarian Presidency until democracy and fundamental rights are protected again and the appropriate use of EU funds can be guaranteed,” said SPÖ-EU MP Theresa Bielowski in a broadcast. In the second half of 2024, both the European Parliament and the Commission will be reconstituted.
“Hungary’s government urgently needs to make further efforts to return to the rule of law. We will not release joint EU funds if the specified milestones are not met. A postponement of the Hungarian EU Council Presidency, a detailed aspect of this resolution, does not work to improve the situation for the Hungarian population,” said EU-ÖVP delegation leader Angelica Tiny at the request of the APA. Her group voted in favor of the resolution nonetheless.
The FPÖ boss Herbert Kickl however, described the resolution as a “cowardly and unfair attack” on an “uncomfortable member country”.
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