Rule of law in Hungary

In September 2018, the European Parliament asked EU member states to determine, in accordance with Treaty Article 7, whether Hungary is at risk of breaching the EU´s founding values. According to MEPs, the situation has deteriorated further in the years since.

In July 2021, the plenary adopted a new resolution criticising Hungarian anti-LGBTIQ legislation and denouncing the dismantling of democracy and the rule of law in the country. 

MEPs called on the Commission to launch an accelerated infringement procedure and to use all tools in the Court of Justice, such as interim measures and penalties for non-compliance if necessary.  Furthermore, Parliament pointed to a number of issues in Hungary where the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation should be immediately triggered to protect the EU budget, and expressed serious concerns that the Hungarian Recovery and Resilience Plan may not comply with EU law.

In its 2021 Rule of Law report, the European Commission highlighted the worsening situation in the country. It noted, among other issues, that the risk to media pluralism, and the pressure faced by civil society organisations critical of the government. For the Commission, the transparency and quality of the Hungarian legislative process also remains a source of concern.

A delegation of MEPs visited Hungary between 29 September and 1 October to assess the respect for press and academic freedom, the rights of minorities and the wider rule of law context. With that purpose, they exchanged views with the Justice and Interior ministers, Budapest’s Mayor and representatives of the political opposition. They also met civil society organisations, journalists, the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights, representatives of academia and the education system, and of several cultural institutions.