European values in Hungary: MEPs conclude rule of law mission

Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee delegation in Budapest from Monday 14 April to Wednesday 16 April

MEPs met with politicians, authorities, and stakeholders to discuss an array of concerns about the state of EU values

Parliament has long raised the alarm over democratic backsliding in the country

Their findings will inform an upcoming report proposing ways forward in the procedure to protect EU values in Hungary, which remains pending in the Council since 2018.

During their three-day visit to Budapest (Monday 14 - Wednesday 16 April), MEPs looked into topics related to the state of EU values, including the rule of law and fundamental rights - such as independence of the judiciary, checks and balances, media freedom, academic freedom, transparency and anti-corruption measures, the situation of civil society, the rights of LGBTIQ persons and the freedom of peaceful assembly. They met with government representatives, members of the Hungarian National Assembly, representatives of the judiciary, independent and local authorities, unions, liberal professions and stakeholders from civil society across all areas of concern.

Three parliamentary groups (PfE, ECR and ESN) decided not to send their representatives to take part in the mission. Despite this, representatives of five political groups representing different political views, managed to receive a first-hand account of the latest developments. It will help to formulate the Parliament’s stance and communicate it to the Council in the ongoing Article 7 TEU procedure. While the delegation is thankful to the participants of the meetings, it expressed regret that several meetings the delegation requested, with the Government (Prime Minister, Ministers of Justice and of the Interior), the judiciary (Constitutional Court, Curia) and the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights, did not take place.

Following the visit, Tineke Strik (Greens/EFA, NL), Head of the LIBE Delegation, said on behalf of the delegation:

“The delegation's findings indicate that there are no improvements in comparison with the situation highlighted in the previous resolutions of the Parliament. Moreover, there is a troubling trend of further erosion, including as regards independence of the judiciary, media freedom, academic freedom and critical space for civil society. These developments stand in stark contrast to the values enshrined in Article 2 TEU.

Particularly alarming is the fact that the legislation in force as recently adopted, effectively prohibits Budapest Pride. Such a prohibition not only targets the LGBTIQ community but also represents a broader attack on fundamental rights, thus representing an imminent and irreparable harm. In light of these developments, and given the urgency of the situation, the members of the delegation request the Commission to apply for interim measures in the ongoing infringement case before the Court of Justice regarding violations of the LGBTIQ rights, in order to suspend the application of the legislation in question. Taking such action would ensure the right to peaceful assembly and send a clear message that the European Union remains committed to defending its core values and protecting the rights of all its citizens.”

MEP Wawrykiewicz (EPP, PL) stated that “We have observed an indisputable deterioration of the situation, and even an open denial of the rule of law. This includes the process of reducing the systemic independence of the judiciary. EU standards and guarantees in this regard are not being upheld. In addition, we are dealing with the government's intentional refusal to implement the key rulings of the European courts from the point of view of the values enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty.”

MEP Śmiszek (S&D, PL) stated that “The continued violation of LGBTIQ rights in Hungary is very concerning. The ban on Budapest Pride and all related LGBTIQ events is in breach of EU law and values. It is also a serious restriction on the right to peaceful assembly. This undermines the rule of law and democracy.”

MEP Wilmès (Renew, BE) stated the following: “What we are witnessing in Hungary it’s not the rule of law but rather rule by law where the ruling majority has cemented its grip on power, silencing minority voices and stifling diverse opinions, as once again demonstrated by the restriction of the freedom of assembly. Aggressive rhetoric and systemic intimidation are enabled by the Government’s extensive control over the media landscape, where smear campaigns have become the new norm.”

"The ban on the Pride events is a test case that will show whether the European Institutions are up to their task. This repressive measure violates the right to freedom of assembly based on purely ideological grounds. Organisers and participants of the Budapest Pride risk facing criminal charges for marching peacefully in support of diversity, equality and freedom. The impunity of the Hungarian government in circumventing EU law, especially the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, needs to be stopped. The Commission needs to act immediately and ask for the suspension of this law before the European Court of Justice”, MEP Barrena (The Left, ES) said.

The delegation comprised the following MEPs of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (in protocol order)

Tineke STRIK, (Greens/EFA, NL) - Head of the Delegation

Sophie WILMÈS (Renew, BE)

Pernando BARRENA ARZA (The Left, ES)

Krzysztof ŚMISZEK (S&D, PL)

Michał WAWRYKIEWICZ (EPP, PL)

Following the conclusion of the Delegation’s visit, a press conference took place on Wednesday. A recording is available on demand (in English) on the Parliament’s Multimedia Centre. You can also watch a statement by the Head of Delegation recorded at the beginning of the mission or extracts from the meetings with representatives of the Committee on European Affairs of the Hungarian National Assembly and the National Judicial Council.

Background

The latest debate in Parliament on the state of EU values in Hungary took place during the April 2025 plenary, where MEPs debated Hungary’s latest attacks on fundamental rights, following the pro-government parliamentary majority’s vote to restrict the right of assembly. The new rules allow authorities to ban pro-LGBTIQ+ events, like the Budapest Pride, by labelling them as violations of the Child Protection Act.

Hungary’s government has been taking regressive steps for many years, dismantling institutions, the rule of law, and freedom of expression, to the point where the European Parliament can no longer consider the country a full democracy. Having triggered the Article 7(1) TEU procedure for the protection of European values already in 2018, in April 2024, MEPs reiterated the need to determine whether Hungary has committed “serious and persistent breaches of EU values” under the more direct procedure of Article 7(2) TEU.

The European Parliament’s official missions are undertaken in line with its Rules of Procedure. A committee can decide to organise missions to a member state, a country outside of the EU or to international conferences, in the exercise of Parliament’s democratic scrutiny powers and in line with the committee’s area of responsibility. Mission programmes are put together based on positive responses received: Parliament’s services reach out to political representatives and an array of reputable civil society organisations from across the ideological spectrum, with oversight from committee coordinators.