Debate: EU values and the continuing rule of law crisis in Hungary

Members of the European Parliament debate Hungary’s persistent rule of law crisis and a new interim report documenting ongoing failures to respect core EU values.

Drafted by Parliament’s civil liberties committee (LIBE), the text flags:
Judicial interference and threats to judicial independence
Corruption and misuse of EU funds
Government pressure on civil society and independent actors

MEPs will also review the state of the Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union procedure against Hungary, warning that prolonged Council inaction since 2018 has allowed the situation to worsen. They call on the European Commission to explore new legal tools to better protect the rule of law and citizens’ rights.

This year, Hungary amended public assembly rules to allow bans on pro-LGBTIQ+ events under the Child Protection Act, enabling the ban of Budapest Pride 2025. After an April fact-finding visit, MEPs warned this violates the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. The EU Court of Justice’s Advocate General has found the Child Protection Act incompatible with EU law, and MEPs are pushing the Commission to seek interim measures to suspend it.

Parliament is set to vote on the interim report tomorrow, Tuesday 25 November in plenary.