EU could lift Article 7 pressure on Hungary by autumn, says PM

Hungary’s new Prime Minister, Péter Magyar, has said that the European Union’s Article 7 procedure against Hungary, launched in 2018, could be concluded by the autumn.

Speaking after a meeting in Brussels with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, Magyar said progress had been made toward resolving the long-running dispute between Hungary and EU institutions, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

The Hungarian premier stated that the two sides had agreed on steps aimed at bringing the procedure to a close. The process was initiated over concerns regarding Hungary’s adherence to democratic standards, the rule of law, and anti-corruption measures.

Magyar also revealed that he had invited Metsola to visit Hungary and that an agreement had been reached for him to address a session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg later this autumn.

The Article 7 procedure was launched against Hungary in 2018 over concerns related to the policies of the previous government. The mechanism is one of the European Union’s most serious disciplinary tools and can ultimately lead to the suspension of certain membership rights, including a member state's voting rights within EU institutions.

By Vafa Guliyeva