The European Commission requires Hungary to withdraw its transparency bill
propagandaThe European Commission asked Hungary to withdraw a controversial draft law aimed at reducing foreign financing for NGOs and the media, in Jadid The political campaign against foreign interference. Critics fear that the Hungarian draft law entitled “The Transparency of Public Life”, submitted in Parliament Budapest on May 13, is granted the powers of the Hungarian government Weaken Indeed, the decisive sounds of civil society.
The law will allow the authorities to register NGOs and the media funded from abroad on a list, if the government views them A threat to national sovereigntyAnd freeze your financing. Hard fines expect if the flow continues from the outside. A spokesman for the “Eurono” committee announced that the executive authority is aware of the draft law and is closely following its development.
“The committee is very concerned about this project. If it is approved as it is, it will constitute a serious violation of the principles of the European Union and legislation. Therefore, we ask to withdraw this project from the legislative process, “the spokesman said.” We will not hesitate to take the necessary measures if this project is approved, “the spokesman added.” The committee gives great importance to the role of civil society and is still committed to protecting the freedom of associations and enhancing an environment that leads to its work throughout the European Union, as well as with regard to access to financing. “
The speaker also recalled that year last year The committee led the Hungary before the European Union’s Justice Court Given that the law through which the sovereign office and its research activities are established in the legislation of the European Union.
This week, a group of Eurodiputados asked the committee to freeze the European Union to finance Hungary with an immediate impact on the alleged decline regarding the virtue of the Prime Minister’s law law Victor Urban. The message, published on Tuesday, was sent to the European Commissioner for the Budget, Piotr Serafin, and Democracy and Justice Commissioner, Michael McGrath, signed by 26 eurodibuts of five different political groups. “Euronews” contacted the Hungarian government to collect its comments.
Hungary is not ready to decline in the law
The bill is part of the self -campaign “Spring cleaning” Written by Victor Urban, announced by the Prime Minister in March. The ruling party, Fidsz, argues that foreign agents are like American Agency Funds for International Development The European Commission interferes with the Hungarian policy, financing NGOs and the media. “Ultimately, the Hungarian Transparency Law is not only a legal tool, but also a clear political declaration: Hungarian democracy is only responsible for the Hungarian people”, “Meps of Fidesz Tamás Deutsch and Kinga Gál.
According to the government, in 2022, opposition politicians used several million dollars in foreign financing Campaign against the government. Speaking in Budapest after a recent discussion about Hungary in the European Parliament, the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Peter Szigarto, explained that the government is not ready to reverse the law. “They are right to anxiety, but for the wrong reason. He said: “They should not worry about the law of transparency, but for foreign interference in the political life of the country of the European Union.”
MEP and NGOs require measures against the project
Last week, tens of thousands of Hungarians They protested The project is on the streets of Budapest. On Wednesday, the European Parliament held a discussion on the latest events related to the rule of law in Hungary. Several Eurodiputados requested the European Commission. Speaking to “Euronews”, the introduction to Hungary to the European Parliament, Tineke Strik, said that the law was “paste” for Russian law for foreign agents. “According to it, the European Court of Justice can cancel the law if approved.
“The European Commission cannot suspend the law, but it can immediately go to the Court of Justice and ask you to take measures to suspend it, because it isThere is a continuous procedure “Regarding the Sovereignty Protection Law for a while, the court studied this case,” Strick said. “
More than 80 newspapers and media organizations have occurred throughout the European Union A letter against the lawHe said that he will increase freedom of expression in Hungary. On Thursday, 320 Civil Society Organization published a letter who asked the European Commission to take immediate measures. They asked President von der to read that he immediately asked the European Union’s Court of Justice to adopt precautionary measures in conducting the current violation, to publicly urge the Hungarian government to withdraw the draft law and open a new violation procedure, in the event that the Hungary refuses to request this.
European Union ministers are planning to discuss the possible use of the sanctions system in Article 7 of the Bloc in the context of the alleged decline in the rule of law in Hungary when they meet on Tuesday in the Public Affairs Council in Brussels.
