Russia's Envoy to EU Says Prospects for Sanctioning Hungary for 'Breach of Values' Unclear
It is not yet clear what the chances will be for the European Union to place sanctions on Hungary, but there are enough "safety nets" to prevent this from happening, Russia's Permanent Representative to the European Union Vladimir Chizhov told Sputnik on Tuesday.
BRUSSELS (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 25th September, 2018) It is not yet clear what the chances will be for the European Union to place sanctions on Hungary, but there are enough "safety nets" to prevent this from happening, Russia's Permanent Representative to the European Union Vladimir Chizhov told Sputnik on Tuesday.
Earlier in September, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling for Article 7 of the EU treaty to be invoked in order to suspend Hungary's voting rights in the EU institutions over the country's alleged violation of the bloc's fundamental principles.
According to Chizhov, there are enough safeguards to prevent the bloc from triggering the article, and the EU members would have to reach a consensus on the issue.
"However, given the fact that similar claims have been made against Poland, it is not hard to suppose that the Poles and Hungarians will somehow manage to do something to mutually veto the most odious claims. We will see," the Russian diplomat said.
Hungary's voting rights could be suspended if the qualified majority of the Council of the EU votes in favor of triggering the article. Before this happens, however, all EU members have to first unanimously "determine the existence of a serious and persistent breach" by one of the member states.