Resolution on a proposal calling on the Council to determine the existence of a clear risk of a serious breach by Hungary of the values on which the Union is founded

Summary:

Resolution voted by the European Parliament calling on the Council of the European Union to determine the existence of risk of serious breach of EU values and fundamental rights in relation to Hungary, pursuant to Article 7(1) of the Treaty on European Union (TEU).

Further information:

This Resolution was the result of a recommendation of a previous Resolution adopted by the European Parliament, which had already concluded the need for triggering Article 7 procedure against Hungary.

The present Resolution lists a series of facts and trends that were seen as constituting a clear risk of a serious breach of the values of the European Union (EU). Consequently, Parliament submitted to the Council, in accordance with Article 7(1) of the Treaty on European Union, a reasoned proposal inviting the Council to determine whether there is a clear risk of a serious breach by Hungary of the values referred to in Article 2 TEU and to address appropriate recommendations to Hungary in this regard.

The Resolution was adopted by the plenary session on 12 September 2018, and was preceded by a debate with Hungary's Prime Minister on the previous day. This was the first time that Parliament called on the Council of the European Union to act against a member state to prevent a systemic threat to the Union’s founding values. On 16 September 2019, the Council of the European Union held the first hearing with Hungarian authorities, covering all the issues raised in the European Parliament's reasoned proposal.

Official

European Parliament: Debate on the situation in Hungary: Statement by Viktor Orbán, Hungarian Prime Minister, 11 September 2018 https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/debate-on-the-situation-in-hungary-statement-by-viktor-orbn-hungarian-prime-minister-1531_I160027-V_rv

European Parliament: Press Release, 12/09/2018: Rule of law in Hungary: Parliament calls on the EU to act http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20180906IPR12104/

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News

Politico, 25/06/2018: MEPs back process that could strip Hungary of EU voting rights https://www.politico.eu/article/meps-back-process-that-could-strip-hungary-of-eu-voting-rights-viktor-orban/

The Guardian, 11/09/2018: MEPs to challenge Orbán over rule of law in Hungary https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/sep/10/european-parliament-hungary-anti-european-policies-viktor-orban

Politico, 11/09/2018: Orbán clashes with European Parliament critics https://www.politico.eu/article/viktor-orban-unbowed-in-face-of-eu-criticism-hungary-president/

EUObserver, 11/09/2018: Orban should be punished, Austrian leader says https://euobserver.com/justice/142787

Politico, 11/09/2018: European center-right leader Weber backs Hungary censure motion https://www.politico.eu/article/european-center-right-leader-manfred-weber-backs-hungary-censure-motion-viktor-orban/

France24, 11/09/2018: Hungary's Viktor Orban condemns EU 'blackmail', vows to block illegal migrants https://www.france24.com/en/20180911-hungary-viktor-orban-european-union-migrants-corruption-media-soros

The Guardian, 11/09/2018: Orbán defiant as EU parliament considers sanctions on Hungary https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/sep/11/hungary-punished-eu-sanctions-not-country-of-migrants-viktor-orban

EUObserver, 11/09/2018: Orban's allies want concessions ahead of critical vote https://euobserver.com/political/142792

Politico, 11/09/2018: Rumble with Hungary exposes EU divisions https://www.politico.eu/article/state-of-disunion/

EurActiv, 11/09/2018: Orbán divides EPP ahead of crucial European Parliament vote https://www.euractiv.com/section/eu-elections-2019/news/orban-divides-epp-ahead-of-crucial-european-parliament-vote/

Deutsche Welle, 11/09/2018: Hungary's Viktor Orban accuses EU of 'abuse of power' https://p.dw.com/p/34fdh

Hungary Today, 12/09/2018: EP Approves Sargentini Report on Hungary https://hungarytoday.hu/ep-approves-sargentini-report-hungary/

EUObserver, 12/09/2018: EP triggers sanctions procedure, Hungary calls 'fraud' https://euobserver.com/political/142818

The Guardian, 12/09/2018: MEPs vote to pursue action against Hungary over Orbán crackdown https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/sep/12/eu-meps-vote-to-pursue-action-against-hungary-over-orban-crackdown

BBC News, 12/09/2018: EU parliament votes to punish Hungary over 'breaches' of core values https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-45498514

Politico, 12/09/2018: Parliament denounces Hungary’s illiberalism https://www.politico.eu/article/european-parliament-approves-hungary-censure-motion/

Reuters, 12/09/2018: EU parliament pushes Hungary sanctions over Orban policies https://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKKCN1LS1RM

Balkan Insight, 12/09/2018: Hungary’s Orban Finds Balkan Allies Against Censure Vote https://balkaninsight.com/2018/09/12/orban-finds-allies-from-all-party-colours-in-balkan-countries-09-12-2018/

Dutchnews.nl, 12/09/2018: Dutch MEP’s report leads to possible sanctions against Hungary https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2018/09/dutch-meps-report-leads-to-possible-sanctions-against-hungary/

EurActiv, 12/09/2018: Greece’s New Democracy leader says Article 7 on Hungary should be activated https://www.euractiv.com/section/eu-elections-2019/news/greeces-new-democracy-leader-says-article-7-on-hungary-should-be-activated/

Reuters, 13/09/2018: Poland says it will block any EU sanctions against Hungary https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN1LT0ND

Reuters, 13/09/2018: Czech PM says he stands behind Hungary after EU parliament vote https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN1LT1QY

EurActiv, 13/09/2018: Poland worried by EU vote to censure Hungary https://www.euractiv.com/section/future-eu/news/poland-worried-by-eu-vote-to-censure-hungary/

Politico, 14/09/2018: Orbán says Hungary considering legal actions against EU https://www.politico.eu/article/viktor-orban-says-hungary-considering-legal-actions-against-eu-epp-vote-european-parliament/

The Guardian, 16/09/2018: Gove criticised for refusing to condemn Hungary's Viktor Orbán https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/sep/16/michael-gove-criticised-hungary-viktor-orban-tories

BBC News, 16/09/2018: Condemn Hungary's Orban, Labour urges PM after MEPs fail to back censure https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-45540540

Hungary Today, 18/09/2018: Hungary Govt to Challenge Sargentini Vote in EU Court https://hungarytoday.hu/hungary-govt-challenge-sargentini-vote-eu-court-gergely-gulyas/

Politico, 19/09/2018: ‘Defend Hungary’ campaign launched after European vote https://www.politico.eu/article/defend-hungary-campaign-launched-after-european-vote-viktor-orban/

Reuters, 19/09/2018: Bulgaria pledges solidarity with Hungary in rights standoff with EU https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN1LZ2BF

Deutsche Welle, 16/09/2019: Hungary rejects criticism after EU ministers' grilling https://p.dw.com/p/3Pgz9

Euronews, 16/09/2019: Rule of law in Hungary deliberated in Brussels https://www.euronews.com/2019/09/16/rule-of-law-in-hungary-deliberated-in-brussels

The Guardian, 16/09/2019: Hungarian minister grilled by EU about 'threats to rule of law' https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/16/hungary-faces-eu-disciplinary-action-over-alleged-rule-of-law-violations

Politico, 16/09/2019: Timmermans to Warsaw and Budapest: Rule of law fight isn’t over https://www.politico.eu/article/timmermans-to-warsaw-and-budapest-rule-of-law-fight-isnt-over/

EurActiv, 17/09/2019: EU grills Hungary over rule of law concerns https://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/eu-grills-hungary-over-rule-of-law-concerns/

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Commentary and Analysis

The Guardian, 11/09/2018: My country is being poisoned by populism. The EU must stand with Hungary https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/sep/11/populism-eu-hungary-orchestras-conductor

Foreign Policy, 11/09/2018: In Hungary, Social Conservatism and Authoritarianism Aren’t the Same https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/09/11/in-hungary-social-conservatism-and-authoritarianism-arent-the-same/

Deutsche Welle, 12/09/2018: EU finally rebukes Hungary with Article 7 vote https://p.dw.com/p/34m0z

BBC News, 12/09/2018: What sanctions can the EU impose on Hungary? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-45485994

Politico, 13/09/2018: After Parliament slaps Hungary, what next? https://www.politico.eu/article/hungary-article-7-viktor-orban-after-european-parliament-slaps-what-next/

The Economist, 13/09/2018: The European Parliament condemns Hungary https://www.economist.com/europe/2018/09/13/the-european-parliament-condemns-hungary

The Conversation, 13/09/2018: Hungary sanctions: don’t expect Viktor Orbán to back down after parliament vote https://theconversation.com/hungary-sanctions-dont-expect-viktor-orban-to-back-down-after-parliament-vote-103128

German Marshall Fund: Blog, 13/09/2018: European Parliament’s Article 7 against Hungary Not a Nuclear Option, but the Right Step http://www.gmfus.org/blog/2018/09/13/european-parliaments-article-7-against-hungary-not-nuclear-option-right-step

CEPS: Policy Contribution: 14/09/2018: The European Parliament vote on Article 7 TEU against the Hungarian government - too late, too little, too political? https://www.ceps.eu/ceps-publications/european-parliament-vote-article-7-teu-against-hungarian-government-too-late-too-little/

Foreign Policy, 14/09/2018: The End of Viktor Orban’s Peacock Dance https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/09/14/the-end-of-viktor-orbans-peacock-dance-hungary-eu-article-7-epp-european-parliament/

Verfassungsblog, 17/09/2018: Beyond the Spectacle: The European Parliament’s Article 7 TEU Decision on Hungary https://verfassungsblog.de/beyond-the-spectacle-the-european-parliaments-article-7-teu-decision-on-hungary/

Euro|topics, September 2018: EU sanctions against Hungary? https://www.eurotopics.net/en/206414/

Jurist, 20/09/2018: The European Parliament vs. the Hungarian Government https://www.jurist.org/commentary/2018/09/the-european-parliament-vs-the-hungarian-government/

LSE: EUROPP Blog, 24/09/2018: The European Parliament vote against Hungary underlined the EU’s flawed approach to safeguarding democracy https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2018/09/24/the-european-parliament-vote-against-hungary-underlined-the-eus-flawed-approach-to-safeguarding-democracy/

EurActiv, 10/10/2018: We lack alternatives to Article 7 – German analyst https://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/we-lack-alternatives-to-article-7-german-analyst/

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