Rule of Law in Hungary: Council to update the Civil Liberties Committee

MEPs will discuss the Article 7(1) process, initiated by Parliament due to concerns about the rule of law in Hungary, on Thursday with the Council.

This is the first substantial discussion on the subject in the current legislative term. The Finnish Presidency of the Council will report to the Civil Liberties Committee on how the first hearing in the General Affairs Council of 16 September went.

MEPs will take stock of the latest developments in Hungary and assess the progress made by EU member states in examining Parliament's September 2018 request. This debate comes two days after the most recent discussion in the General Affairs Council on 19 November, which focussed on enhancing respect for the rule of law in the EU and the evaluation of the Council's annual rule of law dialogue.

You can watch the debate live here.

When: Thursday, 21 November, at 16.30

Where: European Parliament in Brussels, Antall building, room 2Q2

Background

The Article 7(1) process launched by Parliament aims to determine whether Hungary is at risk of breaching the EU’s founding values. Judicial independence, freedom of expression, corruption, rights of minorities, and the situation of migrants and refugees are Parliament’s key concerns. EU member states may decide, by a majority of four fifths, to launch the procedure laid down in Article 7 of the EU Treaty, which may eventually lead to sanctions, such as the suspension of the country’s voting rights in the Council.