Ausführliche Sitzungsberichte

Dienstag, 12. März 2013 - Straßburg

7. Verschiedenes

  Sylvie Guillaume (S&D). - Madame la Présidente, au nom du groupe des socialistes et démocrates, je voudrais exprimer notre très grande préoccupation quant à l'adoption hier par le parlement hongrois, et ce de manière précipitée, d'une série d'amendements à la Constitution dont la compatibilité avec les principes fondamentaux et le droit de l'Union européenne n'est pas assurée. La même inquiétude a été exprimée par le Conseil de l'Europe et la Commission, inquiétude aussi manifeste dans la population hongroise.

Nous demandons que la commission parlementaire compétente – la commission des libertés civiles, de la justice et des affaires étrangères – soit immédiatement saisie pour examiner cet amendement à la Constitution hongroise dans le cadre du rapport sur la situation des droits fondamentaux: normes et pratiques en Hongrie, conformément à la résolution du Parlement européen du 16 février 2012.

Nous attendons, en outre, une évaluation de la Commission de Venise sur la compatibilité de ces modifications avec la CEDH, comme indiqué par les Présidents du Parlement européen et de la Commission.

(Applaudissements)

  Presidente. − Non era un richiamo al regolamento.

  Gabriele Zimmer (GUE/NGL). - Frau Präsidentin! Ich möchte auf die Eröffnung unserer gestrigen Sitzung zurückkommen. Im Namen meiner Fraktion möchte ich darauf hinweisen, dass wir der Erklärung des Präsidenten, wie im Fall der Ausweisung von vier Abgeordneten des Europäischen Parlaments, die in die Sahelzone fahren wollten, durch die marokkanischen Behörden zu verfahren ist, nicht zustimmen, dass wir das nicht für ausreichend halten. Wir möchten den Präsidenten noch einmal ausdrücklich auffordern, dass er selbst gegenüber den marokkanischen Behörden Protest einlegt, sich mit diesem Verfahren nicht einverstanden erklärt, und dass auch noch einmal geprüft wird, eine offizielle Delegation des Europäischen Parlaments nach Marokko, in die Sahelzone, zu entsenden.

  Presidente. − Onorevole Zimmer, siamo d'accordo. Il Presidente ne sarà informato.

  Guy Verhofstadt (ALDE). - Madam President, a few minutes ago there was an intervention on the situation in Hungary clearly indicating that, with the fourth amendment – which has been approved by the Hungarian Parliament – there is a breach of fundamental European values.

My request to you, Mr President, is that we put that point of Hungary on the agenda of the European Parliament when we have our discussion tomorrow with the Commission and with the Irish Presidency. I am saying that because Article 7 of the Treaty is very clear: one third of the Member States can put a problem on the agenda. The Commission can do it; maybe Mrs Reding can do it in one hour because you have a College now; maybe you can take a decision now to go for an Article 7, paragraph 1 procedure against Hungary – or the European Parliament can do it. But what must not happen is that this plenary session in Strasbourg ends without a decision of this Parliament on the case of Hungary and without any action by the Commission or the Council.

(Loud applause)

In fact what is happening is that Mr Orbán is laughing and joking with us by doing this. I should ask my good friend Mr Daul, who has already made a number of statements – I think one month ago, against Mr Berlusconi – and who now also has the courage to ensure that his PPE Group stops supporting Mr Orbán in this breach of European values and principles.

(Loud applause)

So my request is that you put this on the agenda for tomorrow morning.

  Presidente. − Onorevole, la richiesta è chiara.

  József Szájer (PPE). - Madam President, I heard the intervention from the Socialist and Liberal colleagues concerning Hungary. I would take it seriously, because in the European Union we should take each other seriously, unless we see that our Socialist and Liberal colleagues are blind when there are breaches of human rights in countries where there are Liberal and Socialist governments. There is a very clear double standard here in this House.

(Applause)

We never heard any intervention from Mr Verhofstadt when the Socialist Government of Romania blocked the constitutional court from publishing its decision. There are several other instances where, in this House, the left side of the House is applying double standards. Clearly the fourth amendment of the Constitution of Hungary is an issue for Hungary, because Article 4 of the European Treaty makes it clear that the domestic constitutional structures of a country are part of its sovereignty, which no one can violate. This does not mean, dear colleagues, that you do not have to apply the basic constitutional principles of the European common heritage.

The Hungarian Government has already tabled the fourth amendment of the Hungarian Constitution at the Venice Commission for review, but there was no intervention with so much as a word about a problem with this constitutional amendment. What is the specific point that violates rights so much?

(Interruption from the floor)

Mr Verhostadt’s answer is that it breaches everything. But can he name specifically where the violation of human rights or rule of law is in this area? Can he demonstrate it? Hungary is part of the European club; we are abiding by the rules. I would like to make it very clear that Hungary is abiding by the basic principles of human rights and rule of law, and there is no point in having double standard, biased procedures against any country in this Union, otherwise you will be getting into a Union which is growing apart and not together.

(Applause)

  Presidente. − All'ordine del giorno non è iscritta una discussione sull'Ungheria.

  Rui Tavares (Verts/ALE). - Madam President, as the rapporteur on the situation of fundamental rights, the rule of law and democracy in Hungary, I would like to thank all our colleagues. Mr Verhofstadt has quoted Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union, Mr Szájer Article 4. I would like to quote Article 2, which is the first substantive article of the Treaties. It says that the Union is founded upon democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights. Not only the Member States, but also the Union’s institutions, have to respect these values: that means that we too have a direct responsibility to protect these fundamental values of the Union.

The constitutional amendments do indeed affect some of these fundamental values, from the independence of the judiciary, including the prerogatives of the constitutional court, to freedom of expression. In the context of the report on Hungary, we have already produced four working documents, including one co-signed with the EPP on the independence of the judiciary. We will also focus, in the upcoming report on Hungary, on the fourth amendment, which we will thoroughly assess. Meanwhile, we would ask the Commission to focus its efforts intensively on the dialogue with Hungary on fundamental rights. There is no other issue that merits our attention more than this one.

  Presidente. − Prendo atto che vi è una richiesta di modifica dell'ordine del giorno, che deve essere riferita al Presidente Schulz, il quale prenderà una decisione in merito.