During the pleanry session of the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs address the threats to democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights posed by the Hungarian government’s recently introduced emergency powers in light of COVID-19, in a debate with Council and Commission.

Brussels

debate

plenary session

JOUROVÁ, Věra (EC)

GARCÍA PÉREZ, Iratxe (S&D, ES)

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

EU - Hungary (T)

DELI, Andor (NI, HU)

DELBOS-CORFIELD, Gwendoline (Greens/EFA, FR)

STRUGARIU, Ramona (Renew, RO)

BRNJAC, Nikolina (HR)

Emergency legislation in Hungary and its impact on the rule of law and fundamental rights: extracts from the debate

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/18769330/I191259Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

Views with disinfections team cleaning the sits and the desk in the hemicycle (4 shots)

SOUNDBITE (English), Nikolina BRNJAC, Croatian Presidency, Unprecedented circumstances have led many member states to adopt fair reaching measures which have been key to acting rapidly and effectively to protect the public health of citizens. However, some of the measures do have a significant impact on fundamental rights, democracy and the rule of law. It is therefore essential that they are necessary, that they are proportionate to the objective, limited to the time, subject to regular scrutiny and in respect of fundamental rights and the rule of law. The European Commission president reaffirmed his principles in a statement on 21st of March, and they were subsequently supported in statements by significant member states. The Article 7 procedure, considering Hungary was on the agenda of the General Affairs Council.

SOUNDBITE (English), V&#277;ra JOUROV&#193;, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Values and Transparency, The case of Hungary raises particular concerns. In case of Hungary, the emergency powers granted appear more extensive than in other member states, considering the combined effect of broadly defined powers and the absence of a clear time limit. The criminalisation of stating or spreading the false information related to the crisis is not clearly defined and is accompanied by strict sanctions. This raises potential concerns as regards legal certainty and may have a chilling effect on freedom of expression. These particular concerns come in a well-known context in Hungary. As regards the rule of law and respect for EU values, the commission is therefore monitoring very closely the use of emergency powers in Hungary.

SOUNDBITE (English), V&#277;ra JOUROV&#193;, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Values and Transparency, In Hungary the environment in which media and journalists operate has been deteriorating for a number of years. Organizations and associations representing civil society and journalists have been sounding warnings about the situation. These warnings grew louder following the adoption by Hungary of the provision criminalising the spreading of disinformation relating to Covid-19.

SOUNDBITE (Hungarian), Andor DELI (EPP, HU), The European Parliament needs to do a great deal. But it seems that there are those on the left who can't stop attacking Hungary every single month. And there's no point in having these empty ideological debates. We should be talking about essential matters. We should be talking about what citizens are interested in. And now this is on the agenda again in a debate where the organizers knew in advance that 90 percent of the MEP wouldn't be able to participate and wouldn't be able to express their opinion.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Iratxe GARC&#205;A P&#201;REZ (S&amp;D, ES), The NGO Freedom House concluded last month that Hungary can no longer be considered a democracy. This is unprecedent. Did a country in the European Union no longer being considered a fully fledged democracy? And in 2005 Hungary was described as one of the most promising rising democracies. There are measures that no measures are being taken to sanction what Orban is doing in his country, and it just keeps going on with ever more powers and interference in the electoral system compromising education, culture, freedom of speech, hampering free civil society. It's a shame, a shameful situation within the European Union. And it's an attack on our international reputation as the Union.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ramona STRUGARIU (RE, RO), Mr Orban should have been here in the room to ask you some questions today. But he said he was busy fighting the pandemics. Well, may I ask him what is the connection between pandemics and rejection of the Istanbul convention? Does violence against women help him fight the pandemics? Are there any special fighting tactics that we have to learn? What is the difference? What is the connection? I'm sorry, between this indefinite state of emergency and fully silencing the civil society and the independent media and criminalizing independent journalists, how about arresting people? How is he fighting the pandemic by arresting people who criticize the Hungarian government.

SOUNDBITE (French), Gwendoline DELBOS-CORFIELD (Greens/EFA, FR), We know about the attacks against freedom of media. We know the continuous judicial reform. We know the discriminates measures. We know that today in Hungary, you can have five years of imprisonment because the government considers you have said fake news. We all know that yesterday, one man was taken into custody for an opinion he posted on Facebook. Freedom of thinking is under threat now in Hungary.