Hungary and the rule of law
Ministerial meeting with EP rapporteur, Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield (Greens/EFA)
Today, the General Affairs Council will meet to discuss the situation in Hungary and the rule of law. This morning, Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield MEP, Greens/EFA rapporteur for the rule of law in Hungary, was invited to present the Parliament's position at a ministerial breakfast, with Commissioners Věra Jourová and Didier Reynders also in attendance.
Following the breakfast, Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield MEP, Greens/EFA rapporteur on the rule of law in Hungary, comments:
"The longer the Council dithers on Hungary, the worse the situation gets by the day. So far the government has forced out a university, shut down space for civil society and removed judges. It's been over a year since the Parliament voted overwhelmingly for action on the rule of law in Hungary and yet we still don't have a clear picture of what happens next in this process and if any action will even be taken.
"We appreciate that Members of the Council recognise the Parliament's expertise and are prepared to maintain dialogue during this process and we welcome that they attended this morning's breakfast briefing. However, the Council needs to agree on concrete recommendations and clear deadlines, and the Parliament should be given a formal role in this process.
"The ability for the Hungarian people to live in a free and democratic European country is too important to push into the long grass. Nothing will change for Hungarian people without courage and political will from Member States."
