Denmark calls on the EU to use all legal leverage against Hungary for violating fundamental EU rights, including the Article 7 procedure – the so-called Budapest nuclear option.
This was reported by Politico.
Denmark: Ukraine and Moldova's bids should move together
“We are still seeing violations of fundamental values. That is why we will continue the Article 7 procedure and the hearings on Hungary,” Danish Minister for Europe Marie Bjerre said at a briefing in Aarhus, where the European Commission is visiting as the Danish EU Council Presidency begins.
Article 7 of the EU treaty allows member states to vote to expel or punish a state that breaks the bloc's rules.
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Bjerre also stressed that the EU should consider restricting access to European funds for countries that violate EU law.
Another important issue for Denmark is EU enlargement. The minister criticized Hungary's blocking of Ukraine's EU membership talks, noting that Denmark is ready to seek all political and practical solutions to move forward.
If EU countries decide to push ahead with the Article 7 procedure, they could deprive Hungary of a say in EU policy issues such as enlargement, which would deprive Budapest of the ability to veto Ukraine's membership.
Hungary's opposition to Ukraine's EU membership has raised speculation that the European Commission could push Moldova's bid forward separately by opening a negotiating cluster in the coming days.
However, Bjerre stressed that Denmark is not prepared to separate the accession processes.
“Our goal is to open the first cluster simultaneously for Moldova and Ukraine,” she said.
