During the plenary session of the European Parliament (10-13/09/2018) in Strasbourg, MEPs debate the rule of law in Hungary with Viktor ORBAN, Hungarian Prime Minister, before deciding whether the EU must act to counter the risk of a serious breach of EU values. If backed by MEPs, this would be the first time that Parliament takes the initiative of recommending that Article 7 be activated. Opening speeches by Judith SARGENTINI (Greens/EFA, NL), Ingeborg GRÄSSLE (EPP, DE), Petra KAMMEREVERT (S&D, DE), Maite PAGAZAURTUNDÚA RUIZ (ALDE, ES), Maria NOICHL (S&D, DE), Karoline EDSTADLER, Austrian State Secretary in the Ministry of the Interior, 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 ORBAN, Hungarian Prime Minister.

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

TIMMERMANS, Frans (NL, EC)

SARGENTINI, Judith (Greens/EFA, NL)

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

PAGAZAURTUNDÚA, Maite (Renew, ES)

EU - Hungary (T)

KAMMEREVERT, Petra (S&D, DE)

ORBÁN, Viktor (HU)

NOICHL, Maria (S&D, DE)

GRÄSSLE, Ingeborg (EPP, DE)

EDSTADLER, Karoline (EPP, AT)

Situation in Hungary: extracts from the opening speeches

EP President Antonio Tajani opening the session

Arrival of Viktor Orb&aacute;n, Prime Minister of Hungary (3 shots)

SOUNDBITE (English), Judith SARGENTINI (Greens/EFA, NL), Since 2010, the European Parliament has been urging the European Commission and the Member States to act. They did not do so. It is particularly disappointing that Member States turn a blind eye to the structural erosion of the rule of law in a fellow Member State. It is not the EC alone that is the so-called guardian of the Treaty.

SOUNDBITE (English), Judith SARGENTINI (Greens/EFA, NL), The Civil Liberties Committee after consulting four committees of this House concluded that an Article 7.1 procedure is inevitable. I do not think lightly about triggering that article. But if this House fails to use this emergency brake, we fail deliver to European citizens what was promised to them in the Treaty.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ingeborg GR&#196;SSLE (EPP, DE), Hungary is at the bottom of the poor countries. We see there is a state-controlled economy and therefore the Budgetary control Committee has recommended the adoption of Article 7 with no votes against.

SOUNDBITE (English), Petra KAMMEREVERT (S&amp;D, DE), Our Committe is also calling for the adoption of Article 7. We can no longer sit by and watch the Hungarian government destroy fundamental freedom. We need to make it clear now that fundamental freedoms are fundamental for the European Parliament.

SOUNDBITE (German), Maite PAGAZAURTUND&#218;A RUIZ (ALDE, ES), Your government is turning its back to the neutrality of the State. Freedom of though, conscience, religion and freedom of expression are some of the hardest lesson we have learnt in Europe in the last century. With all due respects, I believe that invoking Article 7 is correct.

SOUNDBITE (German), Maria NOICHL (S&amp;D, DE), A democratic prime minister favour women rights, real strength is not the old male strong man, is the inner strength to be able to look women in the eye, to love women equally, women rights are not negotiable.

SOUNDBITE (English), Karolie EDSTADLER, Austrian State Secretary in the Ministry of the Interior, The Council has not seen standard measures, therefore the Presidency is not in position to present the position of the Council.

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, Democracy in our Member States, in our European Union can not exist without the rule of law and the respect of fundamental rights, they go together. These values charactherise a society in which individual freedom, pluralism, non-discrimination and tolerance prevail. Sadly, the EC shares the concerns expressed in the report, in particular as regards to fundamental rights, corruption, the treatment of Roma and the independence of the judiciary.

SOUNDBITE (Hungarian), Viktor ORB&#193;N, Hungarian Prime Minister, Democracy and liberty are not political issues but moral ones, you want to take a moral decision on the basis of a majority in numbers and condemn a nation. This a serious responsibility, when for the first time in the History of the EU you want to exclude a nation from Europe decisions.  

SOUNDBITE (Hungarian), Viktor ORB&#193;N, Hungarian Prime Minister, Hungary is going to be condemn because Hungarian people has decided that this country is not going to be a country of migrants. With all due respects but very firmly, I have to refuse the threats, the blackmailing, the defamation, by forcing supporting inmigrants and migrants against Hungary and Hungarian people. I must state that whatever that your decision will be, Hungary will not accede to this blackmailing, stop protecting its borders, stop illegal migration, and defend its rights. If needed we will stand up to you too. We are ready for the elections next May when people can decide on the future of Europe and restitute democracy to European politics.