Almost everyone in the EU stays angry with Orbán, but hard action is just as far out: ‘Very disappointing’

Viktor Orbán drives the rest of the European Union to the edge of despair – but not yet. Many fans have not had Hungarian Prime Minister in Brussels in recent years, but more and more other countries are trading their silence for active resistance, now that Hungary continues to fiddle with the rule of law.

The patience is running out, it was noticeable on Tuesday. Again for the eighth time since 2018, ministers and diplomats from the rest of the EU Hungary subject during a hearing to a barrage of criticism, with the question of whether Hungary still respects the EU values ​​due to great concerns about the rule of law. Still, hard intervening is not forthcoming.

Prior to the meeting, 20 of the 27 countries had pronounced in a statement against the latest controversial action by Orbán: new legislation that should make a Pride-Mars impossible by fining the organization and participation and tracking participants with face recognition.

At the initiative of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the twenty countries announced that they were ‘extremely worried’ and ‘very alerted’ by this LGBTI-unfriendly legislation. They called on Hungary to turn back on these laws. If not, the European Commission should “make it useful of all the legal resources that it has at its disposal.”

Polls

It was the second time in a short time that the Dutch cabinet set the tone in the EU meeting room through Minister Caspar Veldkamp (NSC). Veldkamp recently managed to arrange a majority of his colleagues that the European Commission is going to investigate whether Israel still meets the human rights conditions from the Trade Agreement that the country has with the EU.

The European Commission is challenging the Hungarian Pride ban, but did not want to promise any further measures while awaiting that process. “We are currently not excluding any action,” said European Commissioner Michael McGrath after the meeting.

The committee is in her stomach with the Orbán issue. Around Ursula von der Leyen you can hear that the committee hesitates to get involved in Hungarian politics. According to proponents of a soft approach, that would be counterproductive and Orbán in particular provides extra campaign material. There, De Hoop is based on an election victory of opposition leader Peter Magyar, who comes in in polls for the elections, next year.

At the same time, it is difficult for Von der Leyen and the Commission to get the repeated violations of European agreements and rules. Due to other violations, the committee has already frozen 18 billion euros in funds intended for Hungary.

The growing annoyance is also noticeable in the capitals. Until the last minute, the number of statements of support for the statement grew. In the end, except Hungary itself, only the signatures of Poland, Slovakia, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria and Italy were missing.

Coarse guns

A similar group of countries also stops the use of coarse guns against Orbán via Brussels. A majority within the EU is now willing to express that Hungary does not comply with the EU Treaty, but the decisive votes are missing.

In the most extreme case, Hungary can then be deprived of the voting right in EU context. It’s not that far yet. For this article 7 procedure, a large majority must first agree to start a procedure. After that, all countries, apart from Hungary, must also agree to the actual deprivation of voting rights. Police reported on the eve of the meeting that nineteen countries would now be prepared until that first step.

The council seems to point more to the committee, while they both have to work with the highest urgency

“Very disappointing,” Tineke Strik (GroenLinks-PvdA), the Hungary Reporter in the European Parliament, called the outcome. “The explanation of the countries was hopeful, but in the end the council did not take any specific step. The council seems to point to the committee, while they both have to work with the highest urgency.”

Strik also has little good to say about the committee. “He also brought nothing new. To say that as a committee you protect the Hungarian journalists and NGOs, while they are on the edge of the abyss, is almost cynical.”

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