The European Parliament’s pro-immigration majority are seeking to have Hungary condemned on the basis of trumped-up charges. The fact that the procedure under Article Seven is not making any progress in the council comprised of the governments of Member States also testifies to this, the Minister of State for European Union Relations at the Prime Minister’s Office stated on Tuesday.
Judit Varga attended the council meeting of the Member States’ ministers responsible for European Union affairs which was held in Luxembourg. The procedure instituted against Hungary due to the state of the rule of law was on the agenda again, for the fifth time now.
She pointed out that also on this occasion no hearing took place, only the situation was evaluated in some fashion, following which some Member States attempted to induce the Romanian Presidency of the EU to move the procedure to the next phase, but this was not supported by the majority of attendees.
The Minister of State repeatedly highlighted that in her opinion the procedure is nothing more than the exertion of political pressure in order to make the Hungarian government abandon its anti-migration policy.
She pointed out that the council presidency finds it hard to manage the EP’s “forceful attempts contrary to the provisions of the Treaties,” the fact that as the elections are approaching the green party Judith Sargentini – the author of the special report on Hungary – and her associates are making “ever more frustrated” attempts in this phase of the procedure.
She said it is nothing more than a farce that “Sargentini and her associates openly take offence and are not prepared” to accept the presidency’s invitation to an informal consultation as their goal is to be allowed to attend the council meeting.
Mrs Varga said the government is ready to take part in a fair procedure because “when it comes to facts or legal details, the pro-immigration majority are left without munitions”.
While several Member States support the idea of the EP, which initiated the procedure under Article Seven, being allowed to present its position, in October the Legal Service of the Council concluded that in their opinion the Parliament has no further role in this stage.