Hungary’s transparency bill sparks fierce EU debate

The Hungarian bill on the transparency of public life contains provisions that raise concern, as they would impose restrictions on entities that could receive funding in the future, Michael McGrath, the European Commissioner responsible for democracy, justice, the rule of law and consumer protection, said in Brussels on Wednesday.

The European Parliament held a debate on the Hungarian bill on the first day of its two-day session, under the title The Hungarian government’s drift to Russia-style repression: legislative threats to freedom of expression and democratic participation.

McGrath said transparency was a very important value in a democracy, pointing out, at the same time, that transparency and accountability must not be abused to curb civil society or to curb fundamental freedom rights such as the freedom of expression and assembly. Civil society organisations and the independent press played a vital role in the system of democratic checks and balances, he said.

“I want to assure you that these developments have our full attention,” McGrath said. “The Commission is looking at them closely and will not hesitate to take steps as necessary to safeguard European Union law, including fundamental freedoms and fundamental rights under the Treaties and under our Charter.”

In his response, Fidesz MEP Csaba Dömötör accused the EC of having “established a money distribution system harking back to the US Agency for International Development”. He said they were funding liberal, leftist activist groups engaging in political activities, especially during elections.

Dömötör said the NGOs in question “sue governments protecting their borders, lobby against farmers on behalf of the EC, or prepare materials for smear campaigns about Hungary with the aim of withholding EU funding.” Further, he said “the big monies are also used to fund censors and media masquerading as fact-checkers, exclusively leftists and liberals.” The Hungarian bill aims to create transparency, in Hungary as well as in Brussels, Dömötör said.