BETA


2020/2513(RSP) Resolution on ongoing hearings under Article 7(1) of the TEU regarding Poland and Hungary

Progress: Procedure completed

Legal Basis:
RoP 132-p2

Events

2020/06/03
   EC - Commission response to text adopted in plenary
Documents
2020/01/16
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2020/01/16
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament adopted by 446 votes to 178, with 41 abstentions, a resolution on the ongoing hearings under Article 7(1) of the EU Treaty with regard to Poland and Hungary.

The resolution was tabled by the EPP, S&D, Renew, Greens/EFA and GUE/NGL groups.

It is recalled that Article 7(1) of the Treaty on the European Union was triggered by the Commission and Parliament with regard to Poland and Hungary respectively, after it was established that there was a clear risk of a serious breach of the values on which the Union is founded. This Article of the TEU constitutes a preventive phase which allows the Union to intervene in the event of a clear risk of a serious breach of the common values. This preventive action provides for a dialogue with the Member State concerned and is intended to avoid possible sanctions. The Council has so far organised three hearings of Poland and two hearings of Hungary in the framework of the General Affairs Council.

Need for more regular and structured hearings followed by recommendations

Parliament took note of the hearings organised by the Council but noted with concern that the hearings are not organised in a regular, structured and open manner. It called on the Croatian Presidency and forthcoming presidencies to organise regular hearings, while stressing that the hearings should be objective, fact based and transparent and that the Member States concerned should cooperate in good faith throughout the process. It recommended that the Council address concrete recommendations to the Member States in question, with deadlines for their implementation.

Respecting the role of Parliament

Members expressed deep concern that the standard modalities for hearings do not ensure the same treatment for Parliament as for the Commission and one third of the Member States as regards the presentation of the reasoned proposal. It insisted that Parliament’s invitation to a formal Council meeting is still owing on the basis of the right of initiative and the principle of sincere cooperation between institutions. It called on the Council to keep Parliament promptly and fully informed at every stage of the procedure. Members considered that the informal dialogue with Parliament cannot replace the formal presentation of a reasoned proposal in the Council.

Lack of significant progress by the two Member States concerned

Reports and statements by the Commission and international bodies such as the United Nations, the OSCE and the Council of Europe indicate that the situation in Poland and Hungary has deteriorated since the triggering of Article 7(1) of the EU Treaty. In this context, Parliament stated that the Council's failure to make effective use of Article 7 TEU continues to undermine the integrity of common European values, mutual trust and the credibility of the Union as a whole.

Parliament reaffirmed its position on the Commission's decision to activate Article 7(1) of the EU Treaty with regard to the situation in Poland, as well as on its own proposal calling on the Council to determine, in accordance with Article 7(1) of the EU Treaty, the existence of a clear risk of a serious breach by Hungary of the values on which the EU is founded. It therefore invited the Council to ensure that the hearings take account of new developments and asked the Commission to make full use of the tools available to address a clear risk of serious breach by Poland and Hungary of the values on which the Union is founded, in particular accelerated infringement procedures and applications for interim measures before the Court of Justice.

EU mechanism on democracy, rule of law and fundamental rights

Lastly, the resolution stressed the urgent need to establish an EU mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights, as proposed by Parliament, in the form of an interinstitutional agreement including an independent annual report assessing, on an equal footing, the compliance by all Member States with the values enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty. It called on the Commission and the Council, in this regard, to start interinstitutional negotiations as soon as possible.

Documents
2020/01/16
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2020/01/15
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents

Documents

Activities

Votes

B9-0032/2020 - § 2 #

2020/01/16 Outcome: +: 433, -: 189, 0: 50
FR RO ES DE GB NL SE AT BE DK SK IE FI EL CZ LU LT BG CY PT MT HR EE LV SI PL IT HU
Total
69
27
49
85
64
24
19
17
19
12
12
8
12
18
20
6
11
13
4
21
6
11
4
7
7
46
64
17
icon: S&D S&D
135

Belgium S&D

2

Slovakia S&D

2

Greece S&D

1

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Lithuania S&D

2

Cyprus S&D

2
4

Estonia S&D

For (1)

1

Latvia S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

For (1)

1
icon: Renew Renew
100

Sweden Renew

2

Austria Renew

For (1)

1

Slovakia Renew

2

Ireland Renew

For (1)

1

Finland Renew

3

Luxembourg Renew

2

Lithuania Renew

Abstain (1)

2

Croatia Renew

For (1)

1

Estonia Renew

2

Latvia Renew

For (1)

1

Slovenia Renew

2

Hungary Renew

2
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
70

Spain Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Sweden Verts/ALE

2

Austria Verts/ALE

2

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Denmark Verts/ALE

1

Ireland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Finland Verts/ALE

2

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Lithuania Verts/ALE

2

Portugal Verts/ALE

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
39

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Belgium GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

1

Ireland GUE/NGL

3

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Czechia GUE/NGL

1

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2

Portugal GUE/NGL

4
icon: PPE PPE
155

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Finland PPE

2

Luxembourg PPE

2

Malta PPE

2

Latvia PPE

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Slovenia PPE

For (1)

4
icon: NI NI
48

Germany NI

1

Slovakia NI

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Croatia NI

2
icon: ECR ECR
59

Germany ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Netherlands ECR

4
3

Slovakia ECR

Abstain (1)

2

Greece ECR

Against (1)

1

Lithuania ECR

Against (1)

1

Bulgaria ECR

2

Croatia ECR

Against (1)

1

Latvia ECR

Against (1)

1
icon: ID ID
66

Austria ID

3

Denmark ID

Against (1)

1

Finland ID

2

Czechia ID

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Estonia ID

Against (1)

1

B9-0032/2020 - Am 2 #

2020/01/16 Outcome: +: 438, -: 175, 0: 61
GB DE ES RO PT FR NL AT BE DK EL SE IE FI CY MT LU SK BG LV HR CZ EE PL SI IT LT HU
Total
64
84
49
27
21
69
24
17
19
12
18
19
8
12
6
6
6
12
13
7
11
20
4
47
7
64
11
17
icon: S&D S&D
135

Belgium S&D

2

Greece S&D

1

Cyprus S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Slovakia S&D

2

Latvia S&D

2

Estonia S&D

For (1)

1

Slovenia S&D

For (1)

1

Lithuania S&D

2
icon: Renew Renew
99

Austria Renew

For (1)

1

Sweden Renew

2

Ireland Renew

For (1)

1

Finland Renew

3

Luxembourg Renew

2

Slovakia Renew

2

Latvia Renew

For (1)

1

Croatia Renew

For (1)

1

Estonia Renew

2

Slovenia Renew

2

Lithuania Renew

Abstain (1)

2

Hungary Renew

2
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
70

Spain Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Portugal Verts/ALE

1

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Austria Verts/ALE

2

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Denmark Verts/ALE

1

Sweden Verts/ALE

2

Ireland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Finland Verts/ALE

2

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Lithuania Verts/ALE

2
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
39

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Belgium GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Ireland GUE/NGL

3

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2

Czechia GUE/NGL

1
icon: PPE PPE
158

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Finland PPE

2
2

Malta PPE

2

Luxembourg PPE

2

Bulgaria PPE

For (1)

Abstain (1)

4

Latvia PPE

For (1)

Against (1)

2

Slovenia PPE

For (1)

4

Lithuania PPE

Abstain (1)

4
icon: NI NI
48

Germany NI

1

Slovakia NI

2

Croatia NI

2
icon: ECR ECR
59

Germany ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Netherlands ECR

4

Greece ECR

Against (1)

1
3

Slovakia ECR

2

Bulgaria ECR

2

Latvia ECR

Against (1)

1

Croatia ECR

Against (1)

1

Lithuania ECR

Against (1)

1
icon: ID ID
66

Austria ID

3

Denmark ID

Against (1)

1

Finland ID

2

Czechia ID

Against (2)

2

Estonia ID

Against (1)

1

B9-0032/2020 - Am 3 #

2020/01/16 Outcome: +: 448, -: 182, 0: 32
DE FR RO ES PT NL SE GB BE AT IE DK SK EL FI CY LU LT LV BG CZ MT HR SI EE IT HU PL
Total
81
69
28
48
21
24
19
62
19
17
8
10
12
18
11
6
6
11
7
11
20
6
11
7
3
64
17
46
icon: S&D S&D
130

Belgium S&D

2

Slovakia S&D

2

Greece S&D

1

Cyprus S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Lithuania S&D

2

Latvia S&D

2

Bulgaria S&D

2
4

Slovenia S&D

For (1)

1
icon: Renew Renew
98

Sweden Renew

2

Austria Renew

For (1)

1

Ireland Renew

For (1)

1

Slovakia Renew

2

Finland Renew

3

Luxembourg Renew

2

Lithuania Renew

Abstain (1)

2

Latvia Renew

For (1)

1

Croatia Renew

For (1)

1

Slovenia Renew

2

Estonia Renew

2

Hungary Renew

2
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
70

Spain Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Portugal Verts/ALE

1

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Sweden Verts/ALE

2

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Austria Verts/ALE

2

Ireland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Denmark Verts/ALE

1

Finland Verts/ALE

2

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Lithuania Verts/ALE

2

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Czechia Verts/ALE

3
icon: PPE PPE
154

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Finland PPE

2
2

Luxembourg PPE

2

Latvia PPE

2

Bulgaria PPE

Abstain (1)

4

Czechia PPE

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

4

Malta PPE

2

Slovenia PPE

For (1)

4
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
38

Portugal GUE/NGL

4

Netherlands GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

1

Belgium GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Ireland GUE/NGL

3

Denmark GUE/NGL

1

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2

Czechia GUE/NGL

1
icon: NI NI
47

Germany NI

1

Slovakia NI

2

Croatia NI

2
icon: ECR ECR
59

Germany ECR

For (1)

1

Netherlands ECR

4

Sweden ECR

Against (1)

3

Slovakia ECR

Abstain (1)

2

Greece ECR

Against (1)

1

Lithuania ECR

Against (1)

1

Latvia ECR

Against (1)

1

Bulgaria ECR

2

Croatia ECR

Against (1)

1
icon: ID ID
66

Austria ID

3

Denmark ID

Against (1)

1

Finland ID

2

Czechia ID

Against (2)

2

Estonia ID

Against (1)

1

B9-0032/2020 - Résolution #

2020/01/16 Outcome: +: 446, -: 178, 0: 41
DE RO ES FR PT NL GB SE BE EL AT DK IE FI SK CY LU LT BG MT LV SI EE HR PL CZ IT HU
Total
83
26
48
69
21
23
62
19
19
18
17
12
8
12
12
6
6
11
13
5
7
7
4
11
45
20
64
17
icon: S&D S&D
132

Belgium S&D

2

Greece S&D

1

Slovakia S&D

2

Cyprus S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Lithuania S&D

2

Latvia S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

For (1)

1

Estonia S&D

For (1)

1
icon: Renew Renew
98

Sweden Renew

2

Austria Renew

For (1)

1

Ireland Renew

For (1)

1

Finland Renew

3

Slovakia Renew

2

Luxembourg Renew

2

Lithuania Renew

Abstain (1)

2

Latvia Renew

For (1)

1

Slovenia Renew

2

Estonia Renew

2

Croatia Renew

For (1)

1

Hungary Renew

2
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
70

Spain Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Portugal Verts/ALE

1

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Sweden Verts/ALE

2

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Austria Verts/ALE

2

Denmark Verts/ALE

1

Ireland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Finland Verts/ALE

2

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Lithuania Verts/ALE

2

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Czechia Verts/ALE

3
icon: PPE PPE
155

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Finland PPE

2
2

Luxembourg PPE

2

Malta PPE

2

Latvia PPE

2

Slovenia PPE

For (1)

Against (2)

Abstain (1)

4
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
38

Portugal GUE/NGL

4

Netherlands GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Belgium GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

1

Ireland GUE/NGL

3

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2

Czechia GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

1
icon: NI NI
47

Germany NI

1

Slovakia NI

2

Croatia NI

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

2
icon: ECR ECR
59

Germany ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Netherlands ECR

4
3

Greece ECR

Against (1)

1

Slovakia ECR

Abstain (1)

2

Lithuania ECR

Against (1)

1

Bulgaria ECR

2

Latvia ECR

Against (1)

1

Croatia ECR

Against (1)

1
icon: ID ID
66

Austria ID

3

Denmark ID

Against (1)

1

Finland ID

2

Estonia ID

Against (1)

1

Czechia ID

Against (2)

2

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

docs/1/docs/0/url
/oeil/spdoc.do?i=45920&j=0&l=en
docs/0/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-9-2020-0032_EN.html
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-9-2020-0032_EN.html
docs/1
date
2020-06-03T00:00:00
docs
url: /oeil/spdoc.do?i=45920&j=0&l=en title: SP(2020)153
type
Commission response to text adopted in plenary
body
EC
docs/1
date
2020-01-16T00:00:00
docs
url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2020-0014_EN.html title: T9-0014/2020
type
Text adopted by Parliament, single reading
body
EP
events/0
date
2020-01-16T00:00:00
type
Results of vote in Parliament
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EP
docs
url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=45920&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
events/0
date
2020-01-16T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
docs
url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2020-0014_EN.html title: T9-0014/2020
events/1
date
2020-01-16T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament
body
EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2020-0014_EN.html title: T9-0014/2020
summary
docs
  • date: 2020-01-15T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-9-2020-0032_EN.html title: B9-0032/2020 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
  • date: 2020-01-16T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2020-0014_EN.html title: T9-0014/2020 type: Text adopted by Parliament, single reading body: EP
events
  • date: 2020-01-16T00:00:00 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2020-0014_EN.html title: T9-0014/2020
  • date: 2020-01-16T00:00:00 type: End of procedure in Parliament body: EP
procedure/stage_reached
Old
Awaiting Parliament 1st reading / single reading / budget 1st stage
New
Procedure completed
forecasts
  • date: 2020-01-16T00:00:00 title: Vote in plenary scheduled
procedure/title
Old
Ongoing hearings under article 7(1) of the TEU
New
Resolution on ongoing hearings under Article 7(1) of the TEU regarding Poland and Hungary