Parliamentary process of the bill on judicial reform breaches lawmaking rules
Today Amnesty International Hungary, the Eötvös Károly Institute and the Hungarian Helsinki Committee turned to the European Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, regarding concerns about the ongoing law-making process aimed at ensuring Hungary’s compliance with conditions formulated with respect to judicial independence.
Letter to Commissioner Reynders
We request the Commissioner to urge the Hungarian government majority not to adopt the judicial reform package, submitted with a view to gaining access to certain EU funds, in an expedited parliamentary process that completely lacks an opportunity for public consultation and transparency. The adoption of the judicial reform package is essential for Hungary to gain access to EU funds; however, the current legislative process fails to meet the milestones’ requirements of public transparency and consultations.
Despite its utmost importance and the fact that the milestones expressly prescribed an obligation for the Hungarian government to ensure public consultation of the proposed legislation, Bill T/3131 on the judicial reform was submitted to the Parliament in breach of the laws governing the lawmaking process, which precluded any meaningful public and professional consultation on its contents.
Parliament is scheduled to adopt Bill T/3131 on 3 May 2023.