European-level discussions regarding Hungary’s status within the European Union’s structure have once again intensified
German parliamentarians, as well as Members of the European Parliament — Daniel Freund and Moritz Körner — recently made strong statements urging the leadership of the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Federal Foreign Office to intensify efforts aimed at suspending Hungary’s voting rights within the EU Council. This initiative is motivated by longstanding issues related to the rule of law, democratic institutions, and justice in Hungary, which have raised concerns among European politicians and experts. In a letter to Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, which is in the possession of Spiegel and "European Pravda," the deputies emphasize: "We are observing a systematic dismantling of the fundamental values of the EU by Hungary, including the erosion of democratic institutions and the creation of a corrupt power structure." The document highlights that Budapest’s tactics violate not only the internal norms and principles of the European Union but also threaten its unity and stability. The letter particularly stresses the need to activate the existing response tools more effectively. Amid the preparations for new sanctions measures, including the extension of frozen Russian assets and the adoption of the 18th sanctions package, discussions are ongoing about combining tougher actions. Due to the friendly stance of the Hungarian government towards Russia, achieving unanimity among EU member states on new restrictions is becoming increasingly difficult. On their part, Moritz Körner notes: "Over the past few years, Hungary has been systematically undermining the rule of law," adding that in this situation, Article 7 of the EU Treaty becomes particularly significant, as it allows for the temporary suspension of a member state's voting rights in cases of serious and persistent breaches of democratic principles. Currently, the European Parliament has been initiating procedures under Article 7 against Budapest for over five years, but its implementation has faced significant delays. The decision regarding Hungary’s future depends on the European Union Council meeting scheduled for May 27. According to procedure, a decision requires unanimous approval from all member states, except Hungary itself, which can abstain or otherwise block the adoption of the decision. Additionally, the foreign ministries of member countries, in close cooperation, must prepare arguments and actions to document the ongoing violations in Hungary, particularly in the areas of justice, judicial independence, media freedom, and anti-corruption measures. A notable resonance was caused by a letter from Estonian MP Margus Tsahkna, in which he predicts that the EU may soon move to active measures to strip Hungary of its voting rights in the Council, due to its blocking of key decisions, especially concerning sanctions against Russia. By the end of April 2025, Tsahkna states, the situation had reached a critical point, and the application of Article 7 is no longer just a hypothesis but a real possibility. Against this background, tensions are increasing within European circles — the issue of further sanctions against the Hungarian government and its restraint from violating democratic principles and the rule of law is becoming increasingly urgent. At the same time, reaching consensus within the union remains the primary obstacle to swift and effective actions. Experts note that this conflict could worsen the already complex situation within the EU, and the remaining trust in Budapest should be reinforced through concrete and consistent steps — including sanctions and the possible suspension of certain rights within the regional community.