Brussels: EU Parliament expresses concerns about the Hungarian Presidency

Brussels
EU Parliament expresses concerns about Hungarian Council Presidency

The European Parliament has questioned whether Hungary is suitable to hold the presidency of the EU Council next year. The MPs passed a corresponding resolution in Brussels with a large majority.

In view of the frozen EU funds and Hungary’s increasing violations of fundamental rights, it is doubtful whether Hungary can take on this important task. Hungary is supposed to hold the rotating presidency from July to December 2024. “Once again, the European Parliament unanimously expresses its deep concern about the deterioration of the rule of law in Hungary,” said the responsible rapporteur Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield (Greens).

Situation of the rule of law deteriorated significantly

The EU is currently blocking around 30 billion euros in EU funds earmarked for Hungary – including 12 billion in aid and preferential loans from the Corona reconstruction fund. She justifies this by saying that the judiciary and supervisory bodies in Prime Minister Orban’s country are not sufficiently independent to ensure that EU funds are used correctly.

According to the resolution, the rule of law has deteriorated significantly in recent years. For example, laws were passed without sufficient parliamentary control. The EU Parliament is now asking the countries to find an “appropriate solution”. Parliament could otherwise take appropriate measures, the resolution said.

“In recent months, Mr Orban’s government has almost indiscriminately taken hostage important legislative projects at European level in order to extort concessions for itself. Can a country that acts in this way take over the political leadership in Europe? That decision rests with the EU -Member States, not the European Parliament,” said MEP Monika Hohlmeier (CSU).

dpa