Bulgarien wird Ungarn vor der [EU] beschützen

Übersetzung via GOOG.
Brandneu.

https://m.dir.bg/dnes/politika/ms-zapochva-podgotovka-za-pozitsiya-v-podkrepa-na-ungariya-v-es
19.9.2018

Bulgaria will protect Hungary from the EU

One day, European institutions can also strike us, Karakachanov said

The Council of Ministers will launch a procedure for drawing up a position for Bulgaria on the relevant formats of the Council of the European Union, which would reflect that Bulgaria does not support the European Parliament's proposal to the EU Council to initiate proceedings against Hungary under Article 7 of the Treaty The European Union. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Krassimir Karakachanov informed about this at a briefing in the building of the Council of Ministers.

Karakachanov explained that today, at the operative meeting in the Council of Ministers, a proposal was submitted and accepted by a part of the ministers from the quota of United Patriots together with Deputy Prime Minister Simeonov and Minister Neno Dimov, which affects Bulgaria's position regarding the voted decision in the European Union parliament for sanctions against Hungary.

In Karakachanov's view, Hungary's policy affects the sovereign right of each country to change its legislation and conduct a policy. "If this does not appeal to another parliamentary group in the European Parliament, this is their problem and not a problem of the sovereign state," Karakachanov said. He added that he disagreed with attempts to minimize the sovereignty of member states and that sovereignty would be taken by other institutions. The Deputy Prime Minister is of the opinion that similar arguments are currently being used, which were applied in 1956 by the Soviet Union. "Today is Hungary, tomorrow it is preparing for Poland, one day it can fall against Bulgaria," Karakachanov pointed out.

Deputy Prime Minister Valeriy Simeonov said that a repressive action against Hungary is not based on arguments. In his words, today's proposal of the Council of Ministers is motivated not only by our close ties with Hungary, but also by the lack of serious legal or any other argumentation on the proposed sanctions decision against Hungary.

Environment Minister Neno Dimov pointed out that the countries of Central and Eastern Europe have similar problems that can be mutually supported by reminding Bulgaria's support for Hungary's initiative against the Large Combustion Plants Directive as well as for joint initiatives with Romania . This is a way to defend our interests within the big European family, "the minister added.

What Hungary accuses

The report, adopted by the European Parliament on 12 September, writes that Hungary is threatening to violate European values and this has an impact on other EU countries and their trust. Twelve areas have been listed with which Budapest has triggered anxiety:

the constitutional and electoral system;
the independence of the institutions and the rights of judges;
corruption and conflicts of interest;
the right to privacy and data protection;
freedom of expression;
academic freedom;
freedom of religion;
freedom of association;
the right to equal treatment;
minority rights;
the fundamental rights of migrants;
economic and social rights.

The report reminds that Hungary's accession to the EU was a voluntary act based on a sovereign solution with a broad consensus across the political spectrum "and stresses that any Hungarian government has the duty to eliminate the risk of a serious threat to the founding values of the EU.

What next

The proposal for a Council Decision will be sent to the Member States. If in the Council of the EU 4/5 of the foreign ministers share the concerns of the majority of MEPs, it can be seen that in Hungary the rule of law is under constant threat. Ministers may find that there is an obvious risk of a serious violation of Hungary in relation to the European values enshrined in the EU Treaty. The Council will first have to listen to the views of the Hungarian authorities, and the EP has to give its consent. Member States can also respond to Hungary's recommendations on preventing the threat, explained by the EP.

At a later stage, the EU Council may, with the unanimity and approval of the EP, determine the risk of a serious and persistent breach of the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights. This could lead to sanctions, such as the suspension of voting rights in the EU Council.

EDIT: Englischsprachige Quellen jetzt verfügbar.
https://sofiaglobe.com/2018/09/19/deputy-pm-bulgaria-to-defend-hungary-against-move-to-strip-it-of-eu-voting-rights/

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