Hungary under scrutiny as European Parliament sends urgent fact-finding delegation to assess rule of law
The European Parliament is sending a fact-finding mission to Hungary in April to assess the rule of law in the country. The inquiry will focus particularly on judicial reforms and corruption issues. In recent years, the EU has repeatedly criticised Hungary for weakening democratic standards and is now taking a new step in this direction.
The EU institutions have long been concerned about the state of the rule of law in Hungary. Several recent actions have attracted international attention. For example, the Office for the Protection of Sovereignty has targeted NGOs, the police have raided the offices of the Integrity Authority, and the government has introduced judicial reforms that are closely linked to the increase in judges’ salaries.
According to Népszava, the aim of the delegation is to obtain direct information on the situation on the ground. Several political groups in the European Parliament support this inquiry, despite the recent shift in the political composition of the Parliament towards the right. Members of the delegation will also meet representatives of public and civil society organisations to gain a more comprehensive picture of the rule of law.
The target of the EP investigation
The delegation is coordinated by Dutch Green MEP Tineke Strik, who is the Parliamentary Rapporteur on the Hungarian rule of law. Her task is to produce a report that reflects the majority position of the European Parliament. The Parliament has already been highly critical of Hungary in previous reports, and the new delegation is likely to confirm previous concerns.
- Judicial reforms: Ensuring the independence of the judiciary and reducing government influence.
- Fighting corruption: Monitoring the transparent use of EU funds.
- Media freedom: Assessing the independence of the press and the extent of government influence.
The European Union has already taken action on rule of law concerns. In 2018, an Article 7 procedure was launched, which could, in principle, lead to the suspension of Hungary’s voting rights. However, the procedure has stalled since then, as member states have shown no willingness to take the necessary decisions.
According to an EP report issued last April, Hungary has become a kind of “electoral autocracy” and does not respect EU democratic standards. The Commission has tried to force reforms, but their effectiveness is questionable. The new inquiry will also assess the impact of previously proposed reforms.
Orbán’s strategy and what to expect
In recent years, the Hungarian government has increasingly confronted the EU institutions and developed its own narrative on the rule of law debate. Viktor Orbán and the pro-government media often portray EU criticisms as “Brussels attacks”, while some of the government’s actions have raised growing concerns among EU partners.
Tineke Strik stated that international political developments, such as Donald Trump’s presidency and the rise of far-right forces in Europe, could be an encouragement for Orbán. However, the EU is increasingly trying to use instruments to defend the rule of law, such as financial sanctions or legal proceedings.
The Hungarian government is expected to resist the European Parliament’s findings and continue to reinforce its own narrative in its domestic policy communication. However, it will be crucial for EU decision-makers to determine whether to maintain the status quo or take tougher action against Hungary. What is certain is that the Hungarian rule of law situation will remain a priority issue in the EU, and further developments are expected in the coming months.
Read also: