Verbatim report of proceedings

Wednesday, 15 January 2020 - Strasbourg

Ongoing hearings under article 7(1) of the TEU regarding Hungary (debate)

  Ramona Strugariu, on behalf of the Renew Group. – (start of speech off mike) Mr President, I came here with the thought of actually saying that, while we welcome the hearings organised by the Council, we are concerned about the lack of involvement of the European Parliament and about the next steps in the procedure, and so on, but I really don’t want to talk about procedure. I have changed my mind. I want to talk about the fact that it is a disgrace what you are doing to your own country, Mr Orbán. It is a disgrace what you are doing to the place that Hungary deserves in Europe. It’s a disgrace what you are doing to media freedom, to academic freedom, to artistic freedom, to civil society, to all kinds of freedom. You know, nobody made anyone join the European Union. It is a choice towards progress and a commitment to European values that your country made and you disrespect this choice. You disrespect it.

Hungary grew and developed so beautifully using and with the help of European money. So did Poland. And now you are literally building empires of hate, of disinformation and of manipulation using European money. You are a disgrace and, by all means, if we don’t have enough procedure then we should make procedure. If we don’t have legislation then we should make legislation, and take every measure needed to prevent you and anyone embarrassing their own country in this way.

Perhaps just a last thought for the Council: you know, sincere cooperation and transparency do not hurt, particularly if they serve the best interests of the citizens and of the Union and European values.

(Applause)