Hungary - fundamental rights
ECJ referral the logical next step but wider democratic concerns remain
The European Commission today announced it would refer Hungary to the European Court of Justice over the failure of the Hungarian government to amend proposed laws threatening the independence of the judiciary and the data protection authority. The Greens welcomed the decision but expressed concern about the failure to address the wider concerns with constitutional changes, which are leading to a scale-back of democracy in Hungary. Commenting after the announcement, Greens/EFA co-president Rebecca Harms said:
"Today's ECJ referral is the logical next step in the process launched against the Hungarian government. We welcome the resolve of the Commission in seeking to redress the concerns with the 'reforms' of the judiciary and data protection authority but remain convinced that this only the tip of the iceberg. The Commission is continuing to ignore wider concerns with constitutional changes and media freedom, which are completely at odds with the core values on which the EU is founded and which the Commission, as guardian of the Treaty, has a duty to defend.
"The EU must take stronger action in defence of core EU values and prevent the slide away from democracy in Hungary. The European Parliament has now taken up the baton to this end and the Greens/EFA group will continue to push to ensure the EP investigation addresses wider breaches of fundamental EU values by the Hungarian government, with a view to further EU action. EU member states should also be applying pressure on Hungary in the Council to this end."
