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MEPs slam Hungary, call on EU to explore sanctions

Resolution wins broad backing, including from traditional allies of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

STRASBOURG, France — The European Parliament condemned on Wednesday a “serious deterioration of the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights” in Hungary and called for a process that could theoretically lead to EU sanctions against Budapest.

Although sanctions are widely regarded as unlikely, the vote shows how frustrated MEPs across party lines have become with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government — especially with its anti-migrant policies, anti-EU communication campaign and laws targeting NGOs that receive foreign funding and Budapest’s Central European University.

In a resolution adopted by 393 votes to 221, the Parliament called for the EU to start so-called Article 7 proceedings against Hungary. Article 7 of the Treaty of the European Union says the bloc can impose sanctions, such as the suspension of voting rights, against a member country found to be in “serious and persistent breach” of founding values such as “respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights.”

However, all other EU members would have to conclude that there had been such a breach — setting a very high bar for action. Suspending voting rights is regarded as a “nuclear option” and has never been used.

The text was tabled primarily by the liberal ALDE parliamentary group, which has long promoted the use of Article 7 against Hungary. The center-left Socialists & Democrats, the Greens, the far-left GUE and some members of the center-right European People’s Party (EPP) also supported the resolution. Orbán’s own Fidesz party is a member of the EPP group.

The text asks the Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs to draw up a resolution calling on the European Council — the body made up of the leaders of the bloc’s member countries — to “act pursuant to Article 7.” That resolution would then be the subject of another plenary vote.

The resolution also calls for the EU to reach an agreement with U.S authorities, making it possible for the Central European University to remain in Budapest. The university is supported by U.S.-Hungarian financier George Soros.