The European Commission will soon publish another report on the rule of law, now its third, in which it will for the first time formulate recommendations for the EU member states regarding justice, the fight against corruption, media freedom and the system of checks and balances, stated Vera Jourová, responsible for values and transparency of the EU commissioner on Wednesday in Strasbourg, at the plenary session of the European Parliament.
In the debate discussing the state of the rule of law procedures under article seven against Hungary and Poland, Jourová drew attention to the fact that the EU Council, which brings together the governments of the member states, will again hold a hearing on the Hungarian rule of law on May 30, and the committee announced on Tuesday that it would also activate the the so-called conditionality mechanism related to the rule of law vis-à-vis Hungary. He stated: the committee shares the EP's concerns regarding the Hungarian rule of law, and expressed regret that the Council has not yet made positive progress regarding the Article 7 procedure.
Regarding Poland, he explained: the situation of the rule of law in the country remains worrisome. The main reason for concern is that the judgments of the Polish Constitutional Court have called into question the EU legal order. However, he added that he sees a positive movement on the part of the Polish authorities in the matter of the disciplinary chamber for the courts.
Balázs Hidvéghi , the EP representative of Fidesz, said in his speech in English: on Sunday, the Fidesz government won such a victory in the parliamentary elections, the like of which has not been seen in Central Europe in the last 30 years. "The election results show not only the spectacular failure of the Hungarian opposition, but also that the Hungarian people firmly and clearly rejected the attempts of the Brussels elite and many representatives of the EP to intervene politically," he emphasized. As he said, the EP is now faced with a clear choice: either respect the will of the people and open a new chapter of cooperation with Hungary or continue the "malicious ideological jihad" against Hungary.
The EP does not respect one of the most important principles of democracy
"Unfortunately, it seems that the EP chooses the latter, which also shows that it does not respect one of the most important principles of democracy, vox populi, i.e. the voice of the people," he emphasized. He added: "Hungarians reject your arrogant ideological education. Europe is facing a terrible war, millions of refugees are arriving in the EU, and an economic crisis is looming. We need sanity and unity. It is time to leave Hungary and Poland alone," Balázs Hidvéghi pointed out.
Katalin Cseh: the situation will worsen in Hungary
Katalin Cseh , Momentum's member of parliament, said in her speech: "after Fidesz's election victory on Sunday, we have to worry again about who will be the government's next target".
"The government suppressed independent media, stigmatized civil society organizations, cut funding to local governments, and attacked the LGBTI community along with other minorities. After their election victory, the situation will worsen in Hungary," he declared.
According to the politician of the moment, it is "worrying" that the EU institutions did not make progress even two and a half years after the start of the Article 7 procedure, and that the Brussels committee also held back the application of the conditionality mechanism for a year.
MTI
Photo: MTI/EPA/Laurent Dubrule
