The European People’s Party (EPP) believes it is time to end the Article 7 procedure launched against Hungary in 2018, arguing that reforms introduced by Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s government have addressed the serious rule-of-law concerns that originally prompted the process.
Speaking at a press conference in Budapest on Friday, EPP Vice-President Tomas Tobé said the Hungarian people had sent a clear message in the 12 April election that they wanted a new chapter in the country’s history.
According to Tobé, the election represented a victory for democracy, the rule of law and Hungary’s return to the heart of Europe. He praised the new government’s early reforms, including measures targeting corruption and discrimination, and noted that Hungarian participation in the Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe programmes had been fully restored.
“It is time to end the Article 7 procedure,” he said on behalf of the EPP group in the European Parliament. He acknowledged that Hungary still had a long way to go and needed further reforms, but argued that the process should nevertheless be brought to a close.
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EPP hopes for a decision before the end of the year
The Article 7 procedure was initiated by the European Parliament in 2018 over concerns about the deterioration of democracy and the rule of law in Hungary. It has made little progress since then.
The mechanism can ultimately lead to the suspension of certain EU membership rights, including a member state’s voting rights in the Council, if the required findings are made by national governments.
Tobé said the EPP would seek a broad majority with pro-European political groups in the European Parliament to support ending the procedure. These include the Socialists and Democrats, Renew Europe and the Greens. He also welcomed support from other groups.
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Asked by Index whether the procedure could be closed before the end of 2026, Tobé said he was hopeful. He argued that the reforms introduced by the new Hungarian government were genuine and reflected a clear political commitment to rebuilding the rule of law.
EPP MEP Eszter Lakos, who leads the Tisza Party’s delegation in the European Parliament and is also an EPP vice-president, said the group no longer considered the risk of a serious breach of EU values to exist in Hungary.
She thanked the EPP for supporting the closure of the procedure, while acknowledging that rebuilding the rule of law after 16 years would take time.
The European Parliament’s November agenda already includes a debate on the situation in Hungary, with a resolution expected to be put to a vote in December. The exact legal route for formally ending the Article 7 procedure remains unclear.
Tobé responds to Fidesz criticism of term limits
During the press conference, Tobé was also asked about criticism from Fidesz politicians of the new government’s plans to introduce term limits for MPs and the prime minister.
He welcomed the fact that Fidesz politicians were now discussing the rule of law, adding that the proposed limits were not directly connected to the Article 7 procedure.
Personally, he understood why the Tisza government had introduced the idea after 16 years of the previous political system. He argued that term limits could help prevent the emergence of a closed political elite that uses public resources for its own benefit.
Lakos added that the restrictions were unusual but, in her view, necessary to prevent another entrenched political elite from developing.
