Council of the 
 
 
 European Union 
   
 
Brussels, 4 June 2021 
(OR. en) 
    9295/21 
 
 
 
 
LIMITE 
 
JAI 650 
 
 
FREMP 155 
AG 45 
POLGEN 87 
 
NOTE 
From: 
General Secretariat of the Council 
On: 
4 June 2021 
To: 
Permanent Representatives Committee/Council 
Subject: 
Values of the Union - Hungary - Article 7(1) TEU Reasoned Proposal - 
scope of the hearing of Hungary on 22 June 2021 
 
 
 
1. 
On 12 September 2018, the European Parliament adopted a Reasoned Proposal for a 
Council decision determining, pursuant to Article 7(1) of the TEU, the existence of a 
clear risk of a serious breach by Hungary of the values on which the Union is founded1.  
2. 
The provisional agenda for the Council meeting (General Affairs) on 22 June 2021 
includes an item "Values of the Union - Hungary - Article 7 (1) TEU Reasoned proposal 
- Hearing of Hungary in accordance with Article 7(1) TEU". 
3. 
On 18 July 2019, the Council approved standard modalities for hearings referred to in 
Article 7(1) TEU2. These modalities set out that the substantive scope of the issues to be 
covered by a hearing shall be agreed by Coreper in keeping with the scope of the issues 
raised in the Reasoned Proposal triggering the procedure of Article 7(1) TEU. 
                                                 
1 12266/1/18 REV1 + ADD1 
2 10641/2/19 REV2 
 
9295/21  
 
GSC/tb 
1 
 
JAI.A 
LIMITE 
EN 
 

---

  
4. 
Hungary was heard by the Council for the first time on 16 September 2019 and this 
introductory hearing covered all the issues raised in the Reasoned Proposal by the 
European Parliament.  
5. 
Hungary was heard by the Council a second time on 10 December 2019. The hearing 
focused on three issues: independence of the judiciary and of other institutions and the 
rights of judges; freedom of expression; academic freedom. 
6. 
In view of the time that has elapsed since the latest hearing of Hungary and that 
significant developments may have taken place, it is suggested that the third hearing of 
Hungary on 22 June 2021 covers all the issues raised in the Reasoned Proposal of the 
European Parliament, in order for the Council to receive an up to date picture of the 
situation in the Member State in question.  
7. 
In view of the above, Coreper is invited to agree that the issues to be covered by the 
hearing of Hungary on 22 June 2021 will be all those raised by the Reasoned Proposal 
of the European Parliament (12266/1/18 REV1). 
 
 
 
9295/21  
 
GSC/tb 
2 
 
JAI.A 
LIMITE 
EN 
 

---