
BUDAPEST (ANP) – Over the course of three days in Budapest, parliamentarians focused on assessing the current state of democracy, rule of law, and fundamental rights in Hungary. Their discussions included engagements with Hungarian officials, as well as representatives from NGOs, journalists, and various civil society organizations.
The delegates observed that the Hungarian government appears to selectively interpret rulings from the European Court, deciding which ones to label as “acceptable” or “unacceptable,” and determining compliance based on these judgments. Dutch MEP Tineke Strik (GroenLinks-PvdA) expressed concern that Hungarian ministers opted not to engage in dialogue with the visiting delegation.
According to the parliamentarians, the situation regarding the rule of law in Hungary has worsened. They highlighted a specific law that bans gatherings perceived as detrimental to children, which has resulted in the prohibition of the Pride march scheduled for June in Budapest.
A report detailing the outcomes of this visit will be released following the summer. Strik, who serves as the European Parliament’s special rapporteur on Hungary, will update the EU’s General Affairs ministers, typically foreign ministers, about the findings. These ministers are expected to address the state of the rule of law in Hungary during their meeting at the end of May.
European Commissioner Michael McGrath (Justice) emphasized on Wednesday that Hungary must comply with EU standards on the rule of law, noting that corrective measures have already been implemented. He pointed out that Hungary is currently unable to access 18 billion euros in subsidies and loans due to its violations of these standards.
The possibility of activating Article 7, which could potentially revoke Hungary’s veto power, remains an option, according to McGrath. However, such a move would require consensus from other EU member states, which has yet to materialize.
(April 16, 2025)













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