European Parliament President Martin Schulz made the following statement after the Civil Liberties Committee approved a report on fundamental rights in Hungary:
“I welcome the adoption by a broad majority in the Civil Liberties Committee of its report concerning fundamental rights in Hungary. I pay tribute to the committee’s intensive work. Today’s vote is the outcome of a year’s preparatory work on a cross-party basis and a fact-finding visit to Hungary.
I also welcome the active engagement of the Hungarian authorities in the work with the European Parliament and in outlining their positions.
I note with concern the recently published Opinion of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, which expresses very serious criticism on several aspects of the fourth amendment to the Hungarian Fundamental Law. As I made clear to Prime Minister Viktor Orbàn back in March, it is disappointing that this Opinion was not sought at an earlier stage.
Beyond the situation in a particular MemberState, the Tavares report is a step forward towards a mechanism for better monitoring of fundamental rights at European Union level. I expect the other EU institutions to actively engage with the European Parliament on this. The EU needs such tools to independently monitor fundamental rights deficits, just as it monitors budget deficits.”
NOTE: President Martin Schulz will address the Council of Europe’s parliamentary assembly on 25 June on various issues, including fundamental rights.
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