Written answers

Tuesday, 10 May 2022

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

European Union

Photo of John BradyJohn Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

114. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the Irish Government has concerns regarding rule of law issues in Hungary; if so, the actions that should be taken by the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22883/22]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Ireland is committed to ensuring that foundational European values, including the rule of law, are upheld across the EU. Accordingly, we remain very concerned about ongoing challenges relating to adherence to rule of law standards in Hungary. The EU has engaged a multifaceted response to challenges to the rule of law within the EU and its Member States. This includes the Article 7 Treaty on European Union (TEU) procedure, the Commission’s Annual Rule of Law Report and related peer review process at the General Affairs Council, the Regulation on a General Regime of Conditionality for the Protection of the Union Budget or the so-called conditionality mechanism, and the use of infringement procedures. Ireland supports this multifaceted approach and actions taken under these procedures and mechanisms by the Commission in exercising its role as guardian of the treaties and ensuring all Member States uphold the EU’s values and standards as well as their obligations under the Treaties.

The Article 7 TEU procedure, whereby the European Council can determine whether there is a clear risk or existence of a breach of EU values by a Member State, was launched in relation to Hungary in 2018. Since this procedure’s initiation, Ireland has participated actively in the hearings held to date at the General Affairs Council where we have urged Hungary to address its rule of law difficulties. Ireland will continue this participation, including at the next hearing on Hungary at the General Affairs Council on 23 May 2022, and values the opportunity for peer dialogue this procedure provides.

Ireland believes that the Regulation on a General Regime of Conditionality for the Protection of the Union Budget is fair and serves an important purpose. Rule of law challenges risk endangering the appropriate use of EU financial resources. We hoped Hungary would have engaged constructively with the rule of law issues which the Commission identified in its informal correspondence with the Hungary government in late 2021 under the conditionality mechanism. We support the Commission’s subsequent activation of the regulation in respect of Hungary in April 2022 given Hungary’s lack of sufficient clarification and commitment to action. Ireland urges Hungary to engage productively with this conditionality regulation procedure and to undertake the necessary reforms to address rule of law problems. Ireland will engage fully in any Council discussions that will ultimately determine any withdrawal of EU funding to Hungary pursuant to this mechanism.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.