The Council of the European Union will hold a hearing on 27 May to deprive Hungary of its voting rights in the council, according to the council’s agenda.
This will be the eighth hearing on Hungary’s breach of the EU Treaty.
The procedure on Hungary’s possible violation of Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union was initiated by the European Parliament in 2018. Back then, the discussions were about the functioning of the constitutional system, checks and balances, the fight against corruption, the protection of civic space, academic freedom and media freedom, and the protection of LGBT rights in Hungary.
Also on 21 May, a group of MEPs called on the European Commission to cut off all funding to Hungary. The MEPs believe that Hungary continues to restrict freedoms and undermine democracy, failing to respect EU law and values.
In 2022, the European Commission called for a €7.5 billion cut in funding to Hungary due to concerns about corruption and a retreat from democracy. The European Commission also set requirements for Hungary to maintain access to funding.
In December 2023, the European Commission unblocked €10 billion of EU funds earmarked for Budapest that had been frozen due to concerns about the rule of law in Hungary.