Requiem for a democracy: the European Union and Orbán’s Hungary

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In a plenary session of the European Parliament (EP) on the 17 May 2017 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) adopted a resolution which suggested that the situation in Hungary justified the triggering of the Article 7 procedure which might result in sanctions for Hungary.

The MEPs were concluding a plenary debate from April 2017. They concluded that Hungary’s current fundamental rights situation justified launching the formal procedure to determine whether there was a 'clear risk of a serious breach' of EU values by a Member State.

The Resolution called for:

+the launching of Article 7(1). MEPs instructed the EP Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs to draw up a formal resolution for a plenary vote
+the Hungarian Government to repeal laws tightening rules against asylum-seekers and non-governmental organisations, and to reach an agreement with the US authorities, making it possible for Central European University to remain in Budapest as a free institution
+the European Commission to strictly monitor the use of EU funds by the Hungarian Government.

A draft proposal on the situation of democracy, rule of law and fundamental rights in Hungarian was discussed by the European Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee on 12 April 2018.

The document called on the Council of the European Union to determine whether there was a clear risk of a serious breach by Hungary of the values which lay at the core of the European Union.

The Civil Liberties Committee would vote on the proposal in June 2018. The report would then be put to a vote by the European Parliament in plenary in September 2018. To be adopted, it had to be backed by two-thirds of the votes cast and an absolute majority of MEPs, i.e. at least 376 votes.

Source Link http://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_requiem_for_a_democracy_the_european_union_and_orbans_hungary#
Related Links
Commentary and Analysis
Verfassungsblog: Blog, 29.06.18: Fidesz and Faith: Ethno-Nationalism in Hungary https://verfassungsblog.de/fidesz-and-faith-ethno-nationalism-in-hungary/
Carnegie Europe: Article, 13.06.18: Is Europe’s Problem Illiberal Majoritarianism or Creeping Authoritarianism? https://carnegieeurope.eu/2018/06/13/is-europe-s-problem-illiberal-majoritarianism-or-creeping-authoritarianism-pub-76587
ECFR: Commentary, 13.04.18: Orbán 3.0: What to expect next http://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_orban_3.0_what_to_expect_next

ESO Records
ESO: Debate: Protecting the Rule of Law in the EU http://www.europeansources.info/record/debate-protecting-the-rule-of-law-in-the-eu/
ESO: Discussion on the situation of fundamental rights in Hungary http://www.europeansources.info/record/discussion-on-the-situation-of-fundamental-rights-in-hungary/
ESO: Fundamental rights in Hungary: MEPs call for triggering Article 7 http://www.europeansources.info/record/fundamental-rights-in-hungary-meps-call-for-triggering-article-7/

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