After the Crisis, Before the Crisis: The Rule of Law Headache that Won’t Go Away Published: 18 December 2020 Commentary The Hungarian-Polish veto on the EU budget and the recovery fund was averted at the European Council last week, but threats to core European values were not. The EU’s rule of law crisis is nowhere near to being solved, and attacks on fundamental rights and democracy will intensify in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. By Márta Pardavi
What to make of Hungary’s budget veto? Published: 7 December 2020 Analysis Hungary and Poland indicated in November that they would veto the European Union’s Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2021-2027 and the Next Generation EU (NGEU) economic recovery fund. However, recent developments indicate that Hungary’s and Poland’s views on the matter have diverged. Hungary continues to risk delaying the arrival of new EU subsidies that would allow the Government to make new spending commitments in the last full year before the 2022 general election. Yet, considering the current politico-economic situation in the EU, Hungary does stand a chance of achieving some of its immediate goals. So, the key question is: What does Budapest stand to gain by using its veto?
Systemic breaches of the rule of law in Hungary: “My biggest fear is that the EU will give in” Published: 4 December 2020 Interview Interview with Benedek Jávor about the blackmailing attempt of Viktor Orbán and Mateusz Morawiecki, the importance of the rule of law in the EU and the responsibility of the German government. By Eva van de Rakt
Pandemic management on the backs of women in Hungary Published: 5 June 2020 analysis The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed and further exacerbated many inequalities - especially the ones concerning woman. By Eszter Kováts
A state in danger - special legal order introduced in Hungary Published: 1 April 2020 analysis The Hungarian Parliament passed a new act on Monday, which gives an already authoritarian government extraordinary, dangerous powers. By Dr. Domokos Lazar
Tough Questions: Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi visiting Czech Republic and Hungary Published: 3 June 2019 Report Myanmar’s State Councillor Aung San Suu Kyi is visiting the Czech Republic and Hungary – her first visit to Europe since the mass expulsion of the Rohingya. This could be a first step to reopen dialogue between Myanmar and the West – but tough questions need to be posed about her handling of the Rohingya question and other human rights concerns. By Axel Harneit-Sivers
Democracy is out of order: CEU forced to leave Hungary Published: 5 December 2018 Analysis The Central European University (CEU) announced that it is forced to launch all degree programs in a new location in Vienna in September 2019. The Hungarian Government has made it impossible for the university to ensure its operations in Budapest on the long run. By Gabi Gőbl
“A decision as important for Europe as it is for Hungary” – Benedek Jávor on the Sargentini Report Published: 20 September 2018 Interview On 12 September the European Parliament voted in favour of starting procedures against the Hungarian government for breaching European values. We asked Hungarian MEP Benedek Jávor how he evaluates the outcomes of the vote. By Zsófia Deák and Benedek Jávor
How to Encourage Illiberals: the Orbán-Merkel Meeting Published: 31 July 2018 Blog Orbán openly threatens the EPP and uses the topic of migration as a pretext to gain credit and form new alliances in the EU. He also continues buidling an illiberal state passing a legal and constitutional package which is deadly for democratic institutions. However ignoring Orban only creates a huge wave of democratic backsliding in the EU. By Péter Krekó