AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
MEDIA ADVISORY
25 April 2018
Hungary: EPP must take an urgent stand as Foreign Minister addresses Parliament
- A symbolic stunt will take place on the Place Luxembourg 10.00 -10.30, Thursday 26 April featuring a solidarity banner and balloons
- Spokespeople available
- Director of Amnesty International Hungary will be in Brussels and available for interview on 26 and 27 April
Ahead of the official release of a European Parliament report calling for Article 7 to be launched against Hungary, in the presence of the Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, Iverna McGowan, Director of the Amnesty International, European Institutions Office, said:
“The Hungarian government is threatening to shut down and shut up the legitimate work of organisations who stand up for people’s rights and freedoms in Hungary. This is an alarming state of affairs, we could be weeks away from a situation where NGOs cannot operate in an EU member state,” said Iverna McGowan, Director of the Amnesty International, European Institutions Office.
“EU leaders, in particular members of the European People’s Party (EPP), the political group of which Hungarian government is a member, must urgently take a stand. For this reason, we warmly welcome the draft European Parliament report, which argues for action to tackle the situation in Hungary.”
“We are steadfast in our commitment to Hungary, to its people, and to the values that we and similar organisations uphold through our work. We will not be swayed,” said Iverna McGowan.
For more information or to arrange an interview, contact Amnesty International press office on [email protected] +32 2 548 27 73 or +32 483 680 812
The Director of Amnesty International Hungary, Julia Ivan will be in Brussels and available for interview on Thursday 26 and Friday 27 April. Contact Amnesty International press office to arrange an interview.
Article 7(1) of the Treaty of the European Union allows the European Council to issue a warning to member states where there is “a clear risk of a serious breach” of the respect for the rule of law and human rights.
The Civil Liberties (LIBE) Committee meeting at which Judith Sargentini MEP will launch her draft report will take place from 11.30 in (JAN) 4Q2
More information on the Amnesty International campaign on the situation in Hungary