Hungary: no systemic threat to democracy, says Commission, but concerns remain

The EU Commission sees no systemic threat to democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights in Hungary, although it has brought several procedures against it for infringing EU laws, said Commissioner Vera Jourová in a debate with MEPs on Wednesday.

Ms Jourová listed several recent contentious issues that the Commission monitored in Hungary, including the treatment of asylum seekers, segregated education and discrimination of the Roma, the treatment of non-governmental organisations managing Norwegian funds, questionable judgments by the judiciary, state aid to media and for the construction of a nuclear plant, as well as corruption affecting public procurement.

"As these concerns are being addressed by a range of infringement procedures, and as the Hungarian judiciary also has its role to play, the Commission found that conditions to start a rule of law framework procedure are not fulfilled", said Ms Jourová.

See recorded debate here for political groups' and MEPs reactions and requests to the Commission.

Note to editors

In paragraph 11 of its resolution of 10 June 2015, Parliament urged the Commission to "activate the first stage of the EU framework to strengthen the rule of law, and therefore to initiate immediately an in-depth monitoring process concerning the situation of democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights in Hungary, assessing a potential systemic serious breach of the values on which the Union is founded".

The Commission was asked to "report back on this matter to Parliament and the Council before September 2015".

REF. : 20151201IPR05554

Updated: ( 02-12-2015 - 22:51)