Romanian attack on language rights in the EP
Hungarian Minister of Administration and Justice and vice-prime minister, Tibor Navracsics and Hungarian Minister of Internal Affairs, Sándor Pintér presented the results of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union and answered MEPs’ questions during the June 16th debate of the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) Committee of the European Parliament.
According to the Hungarian ministers, the main goals of the Presidency have been achieved and important steps have been taken on several major judicial dossiers. The Presidency primarily focused on the human factor in the field of justice: they placed the European citizen at the center of each decision. Hungarian Deputy Prime Minister Tibor Navracsics stated that they’ve managed to set up an action plan with regard to the protection of data at European level and that the Spanish-Belgian-Hungarian trio made progress in the fields of sexual abuse against children, protection of minority rights and social inclusion of those living in poverty, especially the Roma.
Minister of Internal Affairs Sándor Pintér made an account of the achievements: 25 Council conclusions, 12 decisions, 1 decree and 1 directive were adopted during the Hungarian Presidency, while the issue of solving migration problems came into its final stages.
DAHR’s MEP Csaba Sógor is substitute coordinator for the European People’s Party in the LIBE Committee. As such, he received the floor before his colleagues. He thanked the Hungarian Presidency for its decisive administrative conduct and saluted the responses the Presidency made to the attack about the new Hungarian Constitution and Media Law. The MEP inquired about the Schengen dossier, namely the date Romania and Bulgaria is expected to join. Sándor Pintér declared that September is the most probable date and reminded that, despite recent fears, nothing threatened or diminished citizens’ safety of right to free movement because the Union has immediately welcomed immigrants and the Hungarian Presidency decreed the immediate implementation of MISS. Further more, as an act of solidarity, the member states have suspended the implementation of the Dublin agreement.
Csaba Sógor’s remarks were disturbed by a regrettable incident that is in contradiction with the spirit of the EP. Romanian socialist MEP Ioan Enciu shouted, without microphone, but audibly: „Hey, speak Romanian!” The Spanish MEP presiding over the debate, socialist Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar apologized to Csaba Sógor and stated that no one should be ashamed for the language he uses in the EP. He saw this issue only within Hungarian-Romanian relations – he added.
The Hungarian MEP from Transylvania used his right to response and explained the situation to the audience using his microphone and stated that he will file a complaint with EP President Jerzy Buzek.
- It is impermissible to attempt to silence a colleague in such an unethical manner that also constituted a serious procedural offence in the EU institution, that assures broad linguistic rights – said Csaba Sógor.
Minister of Internal Affairs Sándor Pintér made an account of the achievements: 25 Council conclusions, 12 decisions, 1 decree and 1 directive were adopted during the Hungarian Presidency, while the issue of solving migration problems came into its final stages.
DAHR’s MEP Csaba Sógor is substitute coordinator for the European People’s Party in the LIBE Committee. As such, he received the floor before his colleagues. He thanked the Hungarian Presidency for its decisive administrative conduct and saluted the responses the Presidency made to the attack about the new Hungarian Constitution and Media Law. The MEP inquired about the Schengen dossier, namely the date Romania and Bulgaria is expected to join. Sándor Pintér declared that September is the most probable date and reminded that, despite recent fears, nothing threatened or diminished citizens’ safety of right to free movement because the Union has immediately welcomed immigrants and the Hungarian Presidency decreed the immediate implementation of MISS. Further more, as an act of solidarity, the member states have suspended the implementation of the Dublin agreement.
Csaba Sógor’s remarks were disturbed by a regrettable incident that is in contradiction with the spirit of the EP. Romanian socialist MEP Ioan Enciu shouted, without microphone, but audibly: „Hey, speak Romanian!” The Spanish MEP presiding over the debate, socialist Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar apologized to Csaba Sógor and stated that no one should be ashamed for the language he uses in the EP. He saw this issue only within Hungarian-Romanian relations – he added.
The Hungarian MEP from Transylvania used his right to response and explained the situation to the audience using his microphone and stated that he will file a complaint with EP President Jerzy Buzek.
- It is impermissible to attempt to silence a colleague in such an unethical manner that also constituted a serious procedural offence in the EU institution, that assures broad linguistic rights – said Csaba Sógor.
