During the EP Plenary session (26-27/04/2017) in Brussels, MEPs debate on the situation in Hungary, including legislative measures that could force the closure of the Central European University in Budapest. Opening statements by Frans TIMMERMANS, First Vice-President of the EC in charge of Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, and Viktor ORBÁN, Hungarian Prime Minister.

Brussels

statement

debate

plenary session

EU mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights (T)

EU - Hungary (T)

Situation in Hungary: extracts from the opening statements

Arrival of Viktor ORB&Agrave;N to the EP Hemicycle

SOUNDBITE (English), Frans TIMMERMANS, First Vice-President of the EC in charge of Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, The recently adopted Hungarian Higher Education Law is perceived by many as an attempt to close down the Central European University, which I think is a pearl in the crown of post-divided, free and whole Europe. The Commission's analysis of the law confirmed our concerns with regard to its compatibility with internal market freedoms and the Charter of Fundamental Rights. The College has therefore decided today to launch infringement proceedings against Hungary, by sending a letter of formal notice, and we await a reaction from the Hungarian authorities within a month.

SOUNDBITE (English), Frans TIMMERMANS, First Vice-President of the EC in charge of Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, You will all be aware of the Hungarian Government's 'Stop Brussels' consultation. I am pleased to announce that the Commission has decided to make public its own response, in order to dispel misunderstandings and perhaps get the facts straight.

SOUNDBITE (English), Frans TIMMERMANS, First Vice-President of the EC in charge of Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, The reality is that the EU is fighting irregular migration and is actively helping member states to manage their external borders and return irregular migrants who have no right to stay in the EU. But irregular migration needs to be distinguished from seeking asylum. We have a shared responsibility to live up to our international obligations to protect people fleeing war and persecution and treat them fairly and with dignity.

SOUNDBITE (English), Frans TIMMERMANS, First Vice-President of the EC in charge of Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, Saving lives at sea and looking after vulnerable people who are in need for international protection is not the same thing as promoting irregular migration. There is no evidence whatsoever of NGOs working with criminal smuggling networks to help migrants enter the EU.

SOUNDBITE (English), Frans TIMMERMANS, First Vice-President of the EC in charge of Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, I strongly thank Parliament for supporting us. But I also want to express my gratitude to Prime Minister Orban for coming here today and having this debate with us. Dialogue is the European way. Dialogue to solve misunderstandings. Dialogue when we disagree. That is the European way.

SOUNDBITE (Hungarian), Viktor ORB&#193;N, Hungarian Prime Minister, The truth is that this piece of legislation adopted by the Hungarian Parliament, which is a minor amendment, applies to 28 foreign universities in Hungary and all it does, it introduces uniform rules applying to them, closes loopholes, introduces transparency and ends privileges that these foreign universities enjoy over European ones.

SOUNDBITE (Hungarian), Viktor ORB&Aacute;N, Hungarian Prime Minister, This national consultation questionnaire addresses three issues where we disagree with the European Commission. We have a clear position, we don&rsquo;t want, and we don&rsquo;t think that it is actually within the founding Treaties, to make it compulsory, to resettle migrants to Hungary. We reserve ourselves the right to decide we share Hungary with, who we live together with.

SOUNDBITE (Hungarian), Viktor ORB&Aacute;N, Hungarian Prime Minister, The Hungarian bill draft act (on NGOs) follows the US model. In a number of EU countries and also in the European Parliament you are dealing with this complex issue. How can we make sure that rich lobbies that want to have an influence in the decision making are controlled? Our law wants to introduce transparency in this.

SOUNDBITE (Hungarian), Viktor ORB&Aacute;N, Hungarian Prime Minister, Mr President we have always been respectful towards you. When you are talking about Hungary I kindly ask you to be critical towards your prejudices and stick to the truth and measure us by the same yardstick. This is the only way we can be truly Europeans worth the name.