Remarks of First Vice-President Frans Timmermans after the College discussion on legal issues relating to Hungary

At the weekly meeting of the European Commission held in Brussels on the 12 April 2017 Commissioners held a discussion on a wide range of legal issues of concern relating to Hungary, including the recently adopted controversial Higher Education Law.

First Vice-President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans spoke after the discussion to say that 'Recent developments have led to publicly-voiced concerns from a wide range of stakeholders inside and outside the EU. Questions have been asked about the compatibility of certain actions of the Hungarian authorities with EU law and with our shared values.

Today's discussion allowed us to collectively take stock of the issues at hand, in an objective, facts-based and law-based manner'.

The College would take decisions on some of the points discussed before the end of April 2017. The Commission also decided that it would prepare and make public its own response to the Hungarian Government's 'Stop Brussels' consultation'.

Deutsche Welle, 12.04.17: The EU gives Hungary a stern lecture http://p.dw.com/p/2b9Pg

ESO: Background information: Protests in Hungary over proposal on higher education institutions http://www.europeansources.info/record/protests-in-hungary-over-proposal-on-higher-education-institutions/

EUObserver, 12.04.17: EU gives Hungary more time for 'dialogue' https://euobserver.com/institutional/137577

ESO: Background information: Nations in Transit 2017 (Freedom House, 2017) http://www.europeansources.info/record/nations-in-transit-2017/

ESO: Background information: Orbán names Soros and EU among those ‘attacking’ Hungary http://www.europeansources.info/record/orban-names-soros-and-eu-among-those-attacking-hungary/

EurActiv 13.04.17: Commission to consider minor penalties against ‘illiberal’ Hungary http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/commission-to-consider-minor-penalties-against-illiberal-hungary/

Politico, 12.04.17: Commission’s Orbán plan: Talk, threaten and seek allies http://www.politico.eu/article/commission-goes-with-stick-and-carrot-approach-to-hungary-viktor-orban/

The Guardian, 12.04.17: Hungary investigated by EU over law threatening top university https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/12/frans-timmermans-eu-commission-central-european-university-budapest-hungary

Blog: BlogActiv: EU ZMK's Diary, 14.04.17: ‘Let’s Stop Budapest!’ – for Hungary, but by Hungarians http://zmk.blogactiv.eu/2017/04/14/lets-stop-budapest-for-hungary-but-by-hungarians/

EurActiv, 26.04.17: Hungary tells EPP it won’t repeat its mistakes http://www.euractiv.com/section/freedom-of-thought/news/hungary-tells-epp-it-wont-repeat-its-mistakes/

European Commission: Facts Matter. Our response to the so-called 'Stop Brussels' consultation, 26 April 2017 (via Facebook) https://www.facebook.com/notes/european-commission/our-response-to-the-so-called-stop-brussels-consultation/1486604851357916/

Hungarian Spectrum, 02.04.17: National consultation, 2017: 'Let’s stop Brussels!' http://hungarianspectrum.org/2017/04/02/national-consultation-2017-lets-stop-brussels/

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