25 June 2018<\/p>\n
This afternoon, the\u00a0European Parliament\u2019s Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs\u00a0Committee (LIBE) decided, by 37 votes to 19, to launch\u00a0the Article 7 sanctions procedure against Hungary.<\/p>\n
This rare procedure\u00a0would determine whether Viktor Orban’s Government is in a “clear risk of a serious breach” of fundamental EU values, amidst its continued authoritarian crackdown on civil society, academia and freedom of speech. [1]<\/p>\n
The issue will now be put to a vote in the European Parliament\u2019s September plenary session, where a two-thirds majority will be needed to trigger the legal process. This\u00a0could ultimately result in Hungary losing voting rights in the Council.<\/p>\n
Jean Lambert, London’s Green MEP and member of the LIBE committee<\/strong>, said in response:<\/p>\n “I welcome LIBE\u2019s vote in favour of this Green-led initiative to launch disciplinary procedures against Hungary.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Triggering Article 7 is a tough measure, but \u2013 in this case \u2013 absolutely necessary if the Hungarian Government continues on its current path. Today\u2019s vote sends a strong message to Hungary, and other countries, that MEPs will not sit idly back while a Member State becomes increasingly repressive.<\/em><\/p>\n Sadly, Hungary\u2019s Government isn\u2019t alone in rewriting the rule book, seeking to undermine the EU\u2019s fundamental values and moving away from international agreements it has agreed to uphold. As populist, far-right leaders come to prominence in Europe and further afield it\u2019s more important than ever that we rise in defence of our common values.<\/em><\/p>\n Today\u2019s vote is also a stark reminder that the EU must continue working to improve its own standards on human rights, democracy and the rule of law.<\/em><\/p>\n \u200b\u200bThis issue will now go to plenary, where I trust Parliament as a whole will support our Committee position calling for urgent action against Orban\u2019s Government.”<\/em><\/p>\n