On May 27, the Council of the European Union will convene in Brussels to discuss the possible application of Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union against Hungary. This article allows the suspension of certain rights of an EU member state — including voting rights — if there is a serious and persistent breach of the fundamental values on which the Union is founded, reports the Baltimore Chronicle with reference to European Truth.
According to the draft agenda, ministers will hold the eighth hearing on Hungary as part of a procedure launched in September 2018 at the initiative of the European Parliament. The inquiry focuses on concerns regarding rule of law, judicial independence, and democratic standards in the country.
The European Union closed a similar case against Poland in May 2024, leaving Hungary as the only remaining member state currently subject to the sanctions mechanism under Article 7. Tensions have further escalated in recent months after Hungary repeatedly blocked EU decisions related to its policy on Russia. In April 2025, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stated that the EU is moving closer to revoking Hungary’s voting rights in the Council due to its obstructive behavior.
Earlier we wrote that Hungary and Slovakia sustain reliance on Russian energy despite viable alternatives.