The European Parliament held a debate on Hungary with the attendance of the Danish Minister for European Affairs Nicolai Wammen on behalf of the Council Presidency and the Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orbán. Mr Wammen endorsed the Commission’s efforts to ensure Hungary’s compliance with EU law.

MEPs held a debate during the first plenary session of the year on the day after the European Commission completed its preliminary analysis of the Hungarian legislation and its compatibility with EU law. Concerning this analysis, the Commission has started legal action against Hungary. Europe Minister Nicolai Wammen, speaking for the Danish presidency of the Council, backed the Commission's decision and highlighted that all EU countries must comply with the treaties. He welcomed that the Commission, as guardian of the Treaties, has decided to act and concluded a thorough analysis of the Hungarian legislation.

The Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orbán defended the measures and insisted that the problems raised by the Commission can be solved quickly and easily. Turning to the new Hungarian constitution, Orban reminded MEPs that no legal concerns had been raised about its articles last year. On the other hand, Commission President José Manuel Barroso asked for the respect of democracy in Hungary in the best interest of Hungarians, and he said that further action will depend on the response of the Hungarian institutions to the formal notices about the independence of the national central bank, the judiciary and the data protection supervisory authority.

The Commission may demand changes of the Hungarian legislation, if the Commission is not fully satisfied with the observations and answers provided by Hungary. If Hungary and the Commission cannot come to an agreement, the Commission may ultimately bring the matter before the European Court of Justice of the European Union. Before any further steps are taken, Hungary is given one month to respond to the concerns raised by the Commission.