Debate: Breaches of EU law and of the rights of LGBTIQ citizens in Hungary as a result of the adopted legal changes in the Hungarian Parliament - The outcome of  June hearings under Article of the TEU regarding Poland and Hungary
Date: WEDNESDAY, 7 JULY 2021
Speaker: Anže Logar
Language: EN

Let me start with the latter issue, as this topic is essential to all those who suffer discrimination and hatred because of their sexual orientation. There is no place for homophobia in the European Union. No one should feel a need to conceal their true selves in order to avoid discrimination, hate or even violence. All citizens of our union are equal and should be able to live in freedom and safe from discrimination based on their age, sex, race, colour, religion or sexual orientation. These are principles and values solemnly enshrined in the EU treaties, the Charter of Fundamental Rights and EU legislation. Our common European commitment to decency, acceptance and equal treatment is the very foundation of the idea of a just society. The Council is fully committed to upholding the rule of law and protecting fundamental rights. In view of recent legislative developments in Hungary, it is clear that family law and schools’ curricula are within the national competence. Yet the principle of non-discrimination is enshrined in the EU treaties. It was the right to equal treatment that featured prominently in the exchange that Ministers had in the framework of Hungary’s Article 7(1) procedure at the General Affairs Council meeting on 22 June. As President Michel said earlier today, the recent legislative developments in Hungary were also discussed by leaders at the European Council on 24 and 25 June. He stressed today that in the European Union, we do not discriminate, but we integrate.  Coming now to the two ongoing Article 7(1) procedures, as I mentioned earlier, the Council heard Hungary as well as Poland at the latest General Affairs Council on 22 June. By these two hearings, the Council formally resumed the procedure which had to be put on hold due to the COVID—19 pandemic and the impossibility to convene formal Council meetings. In fact, it is crucial that hearings are held in full compliance with all legal requirements in order to ensure that the procedure is balanced and fair towards all the parties and institutions involved.  Each of these hearings covered all the issues contained in the Commission’s recent proposal of 20 December 2017 for Poland and the European Parliament’s recent proposals of 12 September 2018 for Hungary. At the end of the meeting, the Council committed to remaining seized under these two Article 7(1) procedures. The Presidency will therefore bring forward both procedures in accordance with its duties. In addition, the Slovenian Presidency will continue the rule of law dialogue in the Council to pursue the essential work carried out during the German and Portuguese presidencies. It will do so on the basis of the 2021 rule of law report, which will be issued by the Commission in the coming weeks. We will hold both a horizontal discussion on the rule of law report in October and a country-specific discussion featuring Croatia, Cyprus, Italy, Latvia and Lithuania in November. The annual rule of law dialogue is crucial to develop a preventive and constructive approach on rule of law issues, to allow Member States to share best practices and learn from each other, and to strengthen a shared European rule of law culture.  Thank you very much for your attention and I look forward to your speeches.