Plenary summary: breaches of EU law and the rights of LGBTIQ persons in Hungary, Rule of Law guidelines, Slovenian Presidency’s priorities and resolution on Turkey
During its July I plenary session, the European Parliament Plenary debated and voted on several files that relate to the human rights of LGBTI persons:
- Breaches of EU law and of the rights of LGBTIQ citizens in Hungary as a result of the adopted legal changes in the Hungarian Parliament
- Budgetary Control (CONT) and Budget (BUDG) Committees report on the creation of guidelines for the application of the general regime of conditionality for the protection of the Union budget
- Presentation of the programme of activities of the Slovenian Presidency
- Resolution on the repression of the opposition in Turkey, specifically HDP
- (Note: For a complete list of all texts (and specific paragraphs) in this legislature touching upon LGBTI issues, check our List of resources available here.)
Breaches of EU law and of the rights of LGBTIQ citizens in Hungary as a result of the adopted legal changes in the Hungarian Parliament
On Wednesday, Members of the European Parliament debated the resolution on Breaches of EU law and of the rights of LGBTIQ citizens in Hungary as a result of the adopted legal changes in the Hungarian Parliament. The text was adopted on Thursday.
The text of the resolution calls on several actions by the European Commission concerning the adopted law, including:
- […] Calls on the Commission to immediately take legal action, namely by launching an accelerated infringement procedure against Hungary under Article 258 TFEU concerning the Law; calls on the Commission to use all Court of Justice procedural tools if necessary, including requests for an expedited procedure and interim measures, including penalties for non-compliance with the latter; (¶3)
- Reiterates its calls on the Commission and the Council to finally recognise the urgent need for action to defend the values enshrined in Article 2 TEU and to admit that a Member State cannot amend its legislation, including constitutional provisions, in such a way as to bring about a reduction in the protection of these values; […] (¶19)
- Is of the opinion that the Law directly contradicts the Commission’s LGBTIQ equality strategy; urges the Commission to make sure that the strategy is implemented equally in every Member State in the EU; (¶20)
- Recalls that the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation provides a clear definition of the rule of law, which must be understood in relation to the other values of the Union, including fundamental rights and non-discrimination; is of the opinion that state-sponsored discrimination against minorities has a direct impact on which projects the Member States decide to spend EU money on, and therefore directly affects the protection of the financial interests of the Union; calls on the Commission to immediately trigger the procedure provided for in Article 6(1) of the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation; (¶24)
Watch the plenary debate here (part I) and here (part II).
Three amendments were tabled (check here AM 1 and check here AMs 2-3). AM1 was defeated by a vote, AMs 2-3 were adopted. Consult the results of the roll-call votes here (100-117).
The creation of guidelines for the application of the general regime of conditionality for the protection of the Union budget
On Tuesday, Members of the European Parliament debated the report from the Budgetary Control and Budget Committees on the creation of guidelines for the application of the general regime of conditionality for the protection of the Union budget (rapporteur: Petri Sarvamaa, EPP and Eider Gardiazabal, S&D). The text was adopted on Thursday.
The text of the report states the following:
- Recalls that the Regulation provides a clear definition of the rule of law, which must be understood having regard to other Union values and principles, including fundamental rights and non-discrimination; is of the opinion that persistent violations of democracy and fundamental rights, including state-sponsored discrimination against minorities and attacks against media freedom and freedom of association and assembly, have an impact on the projects Member States decide to fund with Union funds, and may therefore have a sufficiently direct effect on the protection of the financial interests of the Union; calls on the Commission to take this into account in its guidelines; (¶20)
Watch the plenary debate here.
Presentation of the programme of activities of the Slovenian Council presidency
On Tuesday 6 July, the Slovenian Prime-Minister Janez Janša presented the programme of activities of the Slovenian Council Presidency, which is anchored on 4 principles:
- The resilience, recovery and strategic autonomy of the EU
- Conference on the Future of Europe
- A Union of the European way of life, the rule of law and equal criteria for all
- A credible and secure Union, capable of ensuring security and stability in its neighbourhood
Watch the plenary debate here.
The repression of the opposition in Turkey, specifically HDP
On Tuesday, Members of the European Parliament debated the resolution on the repression of the opposition in Turkey, specifically DHP. The text was adopted on Thursday.
The text of the report states the following:
- Believes that, apart from improvements in foreign policy issues, progress on any positive agenda that could be offered to Turkey should also be dependent on improvements in the civil and human rights and rule of law situation in the country, including women’s rights, such as those guaranteed by the Istanbul Convention, religious freedom, and the rights of ethnic minorities and LGBTI community; (¶15)
Watch the plenary debate here.
