MEPs question Hungary’s fitness to hold EU presidency in 2024
Resolution passed with cross-party support
On Thursday (1 June), Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) passed a non-binding resolution questioning whether Hungary is fit to hold the EU’s presidency in the second half of 2024. The resolution had support from parties across the political spectrum and passed with 442 votes against 144, with 33 abstentions.
Concerns over Hungary’s democratic backsliding
The resolution states that MEPs questioned Hungary’s EU presidency “in view of non-compliance with” EU rules and values, as Hungary has been under EU scrutiny since 2018 and had its EU funds suspended over rule-of-law and corruption concerns. The European Parliament also called on EU governments to find a “proper solution as soon as possible”, warning that the assembly could take “appropriate measures” if the council did not act.
Efforts to keep pressure on EU Commission and Council
This push by parliament to prevent or postpone Hungary’s EU presidency is the latest effort by a majority in the house to keep political pressure on the European Commission and EU Council (representing EU capitals) with regard to Hungary. The parliament recently adopted another resolution stating that Hungary was no longer a fully-fledged democracy, but a hybrid regime of electoral autocracy.
Difficulties in preventing Hungary’s EU presidency
Despite these efforts, there is little the parliament can do to prevent Hungary from taking over the bloc’s helm. The order of the presidencies is decided by the member states, not parliament, with the latest schedule adopted in 2016 until 2030. Politically and legally, it would be very difficult for EU governments to delay the Hungarian presidency. While the decision on the order can be amended, according to legal experts, there needs to be significant political will by a majority of member states to do so, which has been lacking in the council.
Experts suggest alternative actions
The Meijers Committee, a group of Dutch legal experts, has suggested alternative actions that the council could take to deal with Hungary’s EU chairmanship. One way is for other countries to take over meetings where the topics are seen as being in a conflict of interest with Hungary’s rule-of-law probes. Another option could be for the council to decide that countries under the so-called Article 7 sanctions procedure for possibly breaching EU values cannot hold EU presidencies, thus delaying Hungary’s turn.
Growing frustration with Orbán’s behaviour
Member states’ governments have been reluctant to interfere in each other’s style of rule, even if frustration has been growing with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s increasingly bellicose behaviour in the EU. The EU’s functioning is based on compromise and seeking the consent of all for any decision, which has been exploited by Orbán. Dutch MEP Sophie in ‘t Veld told reporters that “The only reason that Mr Orbán has this power is because of the European Council, it’s the only body that gives him this power… They’re keeping him powerful.”
