On Thursday afternoon, the European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning Hungary in response to the Child Protection Act, with 459 votes in favor, 147 against, and 58 abstentions.
The representatives of the opposition – with the exception of Jobbik’s politician Márton Gyöngyösi – all voted for the resolution. According to the EU parliament, the law violates EU values and legislation. In the text, which contains shades of green and is sharper than usual, the liberal majority body demands, among other things, that:
– the Hungarian authorities use EU funds on the basis of the principle of non-discrimination, so the country should not receive European Union funding from the 2021–2027 framework budget as long as possible violations persist.
– the European Commission should not carry out an assessment of the Hungarian National Recovery Plan as long as there is a possibility that it will in any way contribute to the implementation of the disputed law.
– the Slovenian EU Presidency should call a vote on the recommendations to be formulated for Hungary in the so-called rule of law procedure under the Article 7 proceedings, taking the procedure to a new stage.
– the European Commission should start applying the rule of law regulation, which will come into force on January 1, because it will provide a clear definition of the rule of law for EU payments.
The resolution adopted, which clearly threatens to withdraw money, has no short-term, concrete legal consequences, but it does put further pressure on the European Commission, which is guarding the treaties, to take action against Hungary.
Speaking in Belgrade, Serbia, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said the EP debate was a useful one, as it revealed everyone’s positions, making everything is clear and understandable.
“The European Parliament and the European Commission want LGBTQ activists and organizations to be admitted to schools and kindergartens,” he said, “and Hungary doesn’t.”
Title image: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrives to deliver her speech during the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France, Wednesday June 9, 2021. (Julien Warnand, Pool via AP)
