Hungary couldn't be an EU member if applying now

It seems to me that some countries that joined the EU have forgotten the principles upon which they signed up to. This is a tragedy, and may be a sign that the EU grew too big, too fast.

Hungary’s new emergency law that enables their prime minister, Viktor Orbán, to rule by decree without any time limits is incompatible with being in the EU.

If Hungary was applying to be an EU member today, its membership application would be rejected.

One big problem with the EU is that, whilst a member state can voluntarily leave (as has been the case with the UK) if a member state strays from the membership acquis of the bloc – including a commitment to democracy, good governance, human rights and the rights of minorities – then what can the EU do about it?

There does not seem to be any effective mechanism to remove a rogue EU member; all that can be imposed are sanctions (loss of voting rights, etc)

As The Guardian reported this evening, Hungary’s draconian emergency laws – ostensibly to tackle the #Covid19 virus – are incompatible with the EU, because the emergency has no end, and no possibility of democratic review.

Sophie in’t Veld, a Dutch liberal MEP, who chairs the European Parliament’s rule of law group, said:

“Viktor Orbán has completed his project of killing democracy and the rule of law in Hungary. Clearly, the actions of the Hungarian government are incompatible with EU membership.”

The Guardian also reported that Dacian ?iolos, a former Romanian prime minister and EU commissioner who now leads the liberal group, said it was “shameful this dreadful corona is abused in such a manner”.

The European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, issued a statement today, calling for all emergency measures to be “limited to what is necessary and strictly proportionate” and not lasting indefinitely.

Ms Von der Leyen said in a statement that did not mention Hungary:

“It is of utmost importance that emergency measures are not at the expense of our fundamental principles and values as set out in the treaties.”

The message from Washington was more direct.

Eliot L Engel, the chairman of the US House of Representatives’ foreign affairs committee, said Orbán was making “a blatant power grab in the face of the worst global health crisis in recent history. This legislation marginalises the Hungarian parliament and allows prime minister Orbán to rule by decree like a dictator.”

He added:

“Such a serious affront to democracy anywhere is outrageous, and particularly within a Nato ally and EU member.”

Over the past ten years, we’ve witnessed in Hungary a sharp decline in democratic freedoms. They are not in practice or in spirit following the foundational values of the European Union.

Brexiters have been gleefully saying for ages that the EU will collapse. I certainly hope it doesn’t. Without the EU, Europe could easily go back to the bad old days.

Actually, not bad old days, bad old centuries, when European countries were more used to resolving their differences through violence, war and subjugation.

The coronavirus will test the EU to the limit, just as it will test the UK.

Boris Johnson can refer to society. But society is but a thin veneer, that can easily break down without robust adherence to democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

It’s essential now that we survive and recover from the planet-stopping coronavirus pandemic. But that’s as true for us as individuals, as it is for our country and our continent.

Now is the time we need strong visionary leaders who can ensure that post Covid-19, our democracy is stronger, and not destroyed.

• Commentary by Jon Danzig
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