Assessment regarding the Article 7 procedure and EU fundamental values

This autumn, the procedure under Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union concerning Hungary, which has been ongoing since 2018, will be on the agenda of the General Affairs Council once again. At the heart of the procedure lies the risk of a serious breach of the EU’s fundamental values – these include respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights. This procedure covers a number of issues related to the rule of law and human rights that are not addressed by other EU procedures.

As Hungarian civil society organisations, we have been monitoring the progress of the procedure from the outset and have, on several occasions, produced analyses highlighting shortcomings in specific areas and formulated recommendations to improve the situation.

Since the new government took office, positive developments and important legislative and other steps have taken place in many areas covered by the Article 7 procedure. However, these remain far from comprehensive, and in some areas the promised changes have yet to materialise. As we noted in our flash report of June 2026 on the Article 7 procedure, it is clear that the elimination of legislative provisions and practices that violate human rights and have undermined the rule of law and democracy is a time-consuming process, and must go hand in hand with establishing the organisational and personal guarantees of institutional independence, which is essential for the stability of a democratic state governed by the rule of law. Furthermore, the issues covered are complex, and in many areas, comprehensive measures are required to eliminate the risk of breaching the EU’s fundamental values. As civil society organisations, we wish to support these changes moving forward.

Therefore, in our new assessment, we take stock of the issues covered by the Article 7 procedure, summarising the forward-looking steps taken and the problems still awaiting resolution, and formulate questions and recommendations regarding each topic. Through this, we aim to contribute to the common goal of ensuring that the reforms that have started lead to lasting institutional, legislative and practical changes and safeguards that ensure compliance with the EU’s fundamental values.

The full assessment is available here.

Contributing civil society organisations: Amnesty International Hungary, Háttér Society, Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, Hungarian Helsinki Committee, K-Monitor, Mérték Media Monitor, Streetlawyer Association.