The Hungarian government has led EU talks on upholding democratic standards across the continent, but one prominent MEP described it as an “outrageous” development.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government has been subject to EU sanctions procedures since 2018 for posing a “systematic threat” to democracy and the rule of law.
Around 19 billion euros (16 billion pounds) of EU funding has been frozen due to concerns about government control of judges, academic freedom and failure to tackle corruption. The EU's top court has fined the government 200 million euros, plus a current penalty of 1 million euros a day, for refusing to uphold European law guaranteeing the rights of asylum seekers.
Despite these numerous complaints, Hungary, which holds the EU's rotating presidency, chaired a meeting of European ministers on the EU's annual rule of law report in Brussels on Tuesday. document It assesses the integrity of separation of powers, anti-corruption measures and press freedom in 27 member states and four EU accession candidate states.
An EU report published in July concluded that the lack of investigations and prosecutions into high-level corruption in Hungary remained a “serious concern” and warned about issues such as the independence of public media and the “denigration” of civil society groups.
Daniel Freund, a German Green MEP and prominent critic of the Orban government, said Hungary should not have been allowed to chair the rule of law conference: “It is outrageous that a country that is under the Article 7 procedure (fundamental values sanctions), that has just had billions of dollars of EU funds frozen for rule of law violations and that has been fined €200 million plus €1 million a day for rule of law violations, should be chairing a discussion on the state of the rule of law.”
He said other EU member states should have stepped in to prevent Hungary from taking over the presidency.
Asked about the credibility of Hungary's presidency of the EU's rule of law discussions, Hungary's EU Minister Janos Boka replied: “Hungary has carried out its presidency as an honest mediator, cooperating in good faith with all member states and institutions. We have received no other instructions from other member states or institutions.”
EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders did not answer the question directly but said the Commission would organise consultations under the Article 7 sanctions procedure in accordance with the wishes of EU ministers, but “it depends on the circumstances.” [on] “The President's Agenda”
During the meeting, the ministers criticized Hungary for not emphasizing its support for Ukraine during its six-month presidency.
Sweden's EU minister, Jessica Rosenkrantz, said many countries had stepped in to help Ukraine. “We made a clear request that Hungary be an honest mediator, but it is very disappointing that Hungary did not highlight support for Ukraine in its work plan,” she said.
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She said it was right for Hungary to chair the discussions because it was “very important for the Hungarian presidency to hear all these very clear and powerful arguments” about Ukraine and the rule of law.
Since assuming his six-month EU presidency on July 1, Orban has infuriated EU leaders by sending self-proclaimed peace missions to Moscow, Beijing and President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence. In response, some ministers have boycotted an informal EU meeting in Hungary, but the EU's regular schedule in Brussels and Luxembourg has gone largely as usual.
The European Commission said last week it would deduct an outstanding 200 million euro fine from Hungary's future payments to the EU and asked Budapest to pay a daily penalty of 93 million euros.
At the meeting, Sweden and Finland said EU funds should be more closely linked to respect for the rule of law. Rosenkranz and his Finnish counterpart, Joakim Strand, said EU rules linking EU funds to respect for the rule of law and adherence to fighting corruption “should continue to be used to the fullest extent possible.” “Taxpayers need to be confident that EU common funds are being used properly and responsibly,” they wrote in a joint letter to the commission.
