Deprivation of rights as a result of the Slovak Citizenship Act
19.3.2013
Question for written answer P-003106-13
to the Commission
Rule 117
Ágnes Hankiss (PPE)
In September 2012, a petition, number 1298/2012, was submitted to Parliament by Dr Zoltán Lomnici, former President of the Supreme Court, and László Gubík, a Slovak citizen, who had lost his citizenship as a result of the amended Slovak Citizenship Act.
According to paragraph 5 of the Slovak Constitution, ethnic Hungarians living in Slovakia may not be put at a legal disadvantage as a result of taking Hungarian citizenship, neither may their Slovak citizenship be withdrawn against their will.
Those taking Hungarian citizenship thus acted in good faith, trusting in the validity of the Slovak Constitution. However, the Slovak authorities informed those concerned of the loss of their Slovak citizenship by letter and offered no opportunity for legal remedy.
Among the victims of this procedure, which has resulted in disenfranchisement and serious violation of human dignity, is a hundred-year-old woman who is Hungarian by nationality and Slovak by citizenship. She considers Slovakia to be her home but for decades had dreamed of taking the nationality of her birthplace, in addition to her Slovak nationality. Apart from her citizenship, the elderly lady has been deprived of her rights as a citizen and had her identity card taken away.
The European Union, as we know, considers matters connected with national constitutions to fall within the competence of the Member States. However — as you are fond of asserting in support of criticisms of the Hungarian Constitution — if matters in connection with a constitution result in a violation of fundamental human rights, the relevant EU bodies are compelled to deliver an opinion.
Does the Commission consider the Slovak procedure to be compatible with fundamental human rights? Can those Slovak citizens who are Hungarian by nationality whose rights have been violated hope that you, as resolute defenders of human rights, will show the same commitment to putting pressure on Slovakia to fulfil its constitutional and human rights obligations as they have come to expect?
OJ C 11 E, 15/01/2014