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Timeline of Hungary–European Union relations

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Politics of Hungary
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Gergely Karácsony
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2010
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2019
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Foreign relations

This is a timeline of the relations between Hungary and the European Union (EU), since the transition in Hungary in 1989-90.

Before accession

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  • 1989 – To support the transition in Hungary and Poland, the EU launched the Phare programme.[1]
  • 1991 – European agreements with Hungary, Poland and Czechoslovakia (free trade, possibility of future membership) (16 December).[2][3]
  • 1993 – The Council of the European Union defined eligibility criteria ("Copenhagen criteria") for joining the EU (Copenhagen, 21–22 June).[4]
  • 1994 – Hungary submitted its request to join the EU (31 March).[5]
  • 1995 – Neighbouring Austria joined the EU (1 January).
  • 1997 – The Council decided to launch accession negotiations with Eastern European candidate countries (Luxembourg, 12–13 December).
  • 1998 – Accession negotiations between the EU and Hungary started.
  • 1999 – The EU reformed the Phare programme to support the preparation for the accession and the structural funds, and launched the ISPA and SAPARD programmes to support the preparation for the Cohesion Fund and the rural development pillar of the Common Agricultural Policy.[6]
  • 2002 – Accession negotiations between the EU and Hungary concluded.
  • 2003 – Hungary held a referendum on joining the EU (12 April). 84% of the valid votes supported the membership.[7]

After accession

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2004–2010

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2004

2007

  • Neighbouring Romania joined the EU and neighbouring Slovenia joined the Eurozone (1 January).
  • Hungary – together with neighbouring Slovakia and Slovenia among others – joined the Schengen Area (21 December).[10]

2008

2009

  • Neighbouring Slovakia joined the Eurozone (1 January).

2010–2020

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2011

  • Hungary held the presidency of the Council (1 January–30 June).[8]
  • Prime Minister Viktor Orbán likened Brussels to Moscow for the first time (15 March).[12]
  • The last member states (Germany and Austria) opened their labour markets for the new member states (the accession treaty allowed up to 7 years transition period).
  • Hungary requested a second (precautionary) financial assistance from the EU and the IMF (21 November). Later, Hungary was able to finance itself through the market and did not request further assistance.[11]
  • In the meantime, Hungary drafted a new law on the central bank. The European Commission assessed that the new law can threaten the bank’s independence and President José Manuel Barroso asked Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to withdraw the legislation (20 December).[13] However, the Hungarian parliament adopted the new law (30 December).[14]

2012

  • The European Commission launched infringement procedure against Hungary over the independence of its central bank, data protection authority and judiciary (17 January).[15]
  • With the presence of Viktor Orbán and José Manuel Barroso, the European Parliament had a harsh debate on recent political developments in Hungary (18 January).[16]
  • Pro-government demonstration ("peace march") held in Budapest, with the slogan "We will not be a colony" (21 January).[17]
  • The European Commission was satisfied with changes to central bank statute, but referred the cases of the data protection authority and the judiciary to the European Court of Justice (25 April).[18] Later, the Court found in both cases that Hungary has infringed EU law.[19][20]

2013

  • Excessive deficit procedure against Hungary closed (21 June).[21]
  • Neighbouring Croatia joined the EU (1 July).
  • Hungary repaid the 2008 bailout credit to the IMF (12 August).[22]

2014

2015

  • As a response to the European migrant crisis, Hungary started to build a border barrier (15 June).[24]
  • With tens of thousands of migrants in Hungary, many frustrated with waiting started ignoring police controls on their way to Austria (4 September).[25]
  • With qualified majority, the Council established a temporary and exceptional mechanism to relocate 120.000 refugees from Greece and Italy to other member states (22 September).[26] Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Romania voted against the plan.[27] Hungary and Slovakia asked the European Court of Justice to annul the decision, but in 2017 the Court dismissed the actions.[28]
  • In Poland, the Eurosceptic Law and Justice party won the election and formed government becoming a key ally to Viktor Orbán (25 October).[29]

2016

  • Hungary repaid the 2008 bailout credit to the EU (6 April).[30]
  • Hungary held a referendum on the EU's refugee relocation plans (2 October). 98% of the valid votes rejected the relocation; however, with 44% turnout the result cannot be considered valid.[31]
  • The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) found serious irregularities in the Budapest metro line project funded by the EU.[32]

2017

  • The Hungarian government launched a domestic campaign entitled "Let's stop Brussels!", suggesting that "Brussels" wanted to force Hungary to let in illegal migrants (March).[33]
  • As Hungary, the Czech Republic and Poland did not implement the 2015 Council Decision on relocation of refugees, the European Commission launched an infringement procedure against those three Member States (14 June).[15]
  • The European Commission referred the cases to the European Court of Justice (7 December).[15] Later, the Court found that the three member states have failed to fulfil their obligations under EU law.[34]

2018

  • OLAF found serious irregularities in projects funded by the EU and run by a company once co-owned by the son-in-law of Viktor Orbán. The Hungarian prosecution launched a probe but soon dropped it.[35][36]
  • Significant deviation procedure launched against Hungary (18 June; the first such procedure was launched the previous year against Romania).[37]
  • The European Parliament initiated to trigger Article 7 procedure against Hungary for persistently breaching the EU’s founding values (report by MEP Judith Sargentini, 12 September; the first such procedure was initiated the previous year against Poland, by the European Commission).[38]

2019

2020–present

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2020

  • The European Council agreed to link the EU budget to rule of law conditionality, but left details open (17-21 July).[44]
  • The Commission published the first reports on rule of law in the Member States (20 September).[45]
  • Hungary and Poland threatened to veto the EU budget if linked to rule of law conditionality, but finally a compromise was agreed (10 December).[46][47]

2021

  • The Hungarian parliament passed Act LXXIX, which included banning educational material and content depicting LGBT people in schools and on TV (15 June).[48] In response, 17 EU leaders signed an open letter, vowing to take a stand against discrimination.[49] The European Commission announced it would take legal action.[50][51] The Hungarian government defended the law as a “bill [that] protects the rights of children” and accused the Commission of being biased.[52]
  • The European Commission launched infringement procedures against Hungary and Poland “related to the equality and the protection of fundamental rights” (15 July).[53]

2022

  • The European Commission referred Hungary to the Court of Justice of the EU, as Hungary failed to respond to the concerns brought up during the 2021 infringement procedures (15 July).[54][55]
  • The European Commission froze regular EU-payouts and grants allocated to Hungary because of breaches of the principles of the rule of law in Hungary (18 September).[56][57] Hungary committed to 17 judicial reform measures in order to unlock the grants (7 November).[58]
  • The member states decided to suspend EUR 6.3 billion of the grants due to Hungary having only partially implemented the proposed reforms (12 December).[57][59]

2023

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "The PHARE Programme and the enlargement of the European Union (index)". www.europarl.europa.eu. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  2. ^ "Hungary, European Union - Agreement of 16 December 1991 establishing an association between the European Community and its member States, and the Republic of Hungary". www.ilo.org. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  3. ^ "European Agreements with Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Poland". European Commission - European Commission. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  4. ^ "Copenhagen European Council - 21-22 June 1993". www.europarl.europa.eu. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  5. ^ "Hungary's application for accession to the European Union (31 March 1994)" (PDF). www.cvce.eu. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  6. ^ "European Community aid to Eastern Europe - Subject files - CVCE Website". www.cvce.eu. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  7. ^ "Referendum in Hungary on the country's accession to the European Union (Budapest, 12 April 2003)". CVCE.EU by UNI.LU. 2011-12-08. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  8. ^ a b "Hungary – EU member country profile | European Union". european-union.europa.eu. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  9. ^ "Council Decision on the Existence of an Excessive Deficit in Hungary" (PDF). www.ec.europa.eu. 2004-06-24. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  10. ^ "Background on Schengen enlargement". European Commission - European Commission. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  11. ^ a b "Financial assistance to Hungary". European Commission - European Commission. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  12. ^ "1848 és 2010 is megújulást hozott". 2010-2015.miniszterelnok.hu. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  13. ^ "EU warns Hungary over Central Bank independence". www.euractiv.com. 2011-12-21. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  14. ^ "Hungary passes controversial central bank law". BBC News. 2011-12-30. Retrieved 2023-05-23.
  15. ^ a b c "Press corner". European Commission - European Commission. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  16. ^ "Debates - Recent political developments in Hungary (debate) - Wednesday, 18 January 2012". www.europarl.europa.eu. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  17. ^ "The 'laboratory' called Hungary: a challenge for understanding protest movements". openDemocracy. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  18. ^ "Press corner".
  19. ^ "Court of Justice of the European Union PRESS RELEASE No 139/12" (PDF). www.curia.europa.eu. 2012-11-06. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  20. ^ "Court of Justice of the European Union PRESS RELEASE No 53/14" (PDF). www.curia.europa.eu. 2014-04-08.
  21. ^ "Council Decision of 21 June 2013 Abrogating Decision 2004/918/EC on the Existence of an Excessive Deficit in Hungary" (PDF). www.ec.europa.eu. 2023-06-26. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  22. ^ "Hungary repays 2008 IMF loan in full - government". Reuters. 2013-08-12. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  23. ^ Tóth, -Csaba (2014-07-29). "Full text of Viktor Orbán's speech at Băile Tuşnad (Tusnádfürdő) of 26 July 2014". The Budapest Beacon. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  24. ^ "Hungary's PM plans 'more massive' fence to keep out migrants". The Guardian. Associated Press. 2016-08-26. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  25. ^ "Migrant crisis: Hungary migrants start walk to border". BBC News. 2015-09-04. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  26. ^ "Justice and Home Affairs Council, 22 September 2015". www.consilium.europa.eu. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  27. ^ "Migrant crisis: EU ministers approve disputed quota plan". BBC News. 2015-09-22. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  28. ^ "Court of Justice of the European Union PRESS RELEASE No 91/17" (PDF). www.curia.europa.eu. 2017-09-06. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  29. ^ "The end of the Budapest–Warsaw axis". POLITICO. 2022-04-02. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  30. ^ "Hungary pays off bailout loan amid economic recovery". www.rte.ie. 2016-04-06. Retrieved 2023-05-23.
  31. ^ Kingsley, Patrick (2016-10-02). "Hungary's refugee referendum not valid after voters stay away". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-05-23.
  32. ^ "Budapest metro scheme tainted by fraud". POLITICO. 2016-12-21. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  33. ^ "Hungary's 'Let's stop Brussels!' survey". POLITICO. 2017-04-01. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  34. ^ "Court of Justice of the European Union PRESS RELEASE No 40/20" (PDF). www.curia.europa.eu. 2020-04-02. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  35. ^ "Hungary launches fraud probe into EU-funded projects". POLITICO. 2018-02-08. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  36. ^ "EU pursues Orbán son-in-law case despite Hungary ending probe". POLITICO. 2018-11-08. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  37. ^ "Significant Deviation Procedure". economy-finance.ec.europa.eu. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  38. ^ "Parliament denounces Hungary's illiberalism". POLITICO. 2018-09-12. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  39. ^ "Facts matter: European Commission responds to Hungarian government campaign". European Commission - European Commission. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  40. ^ Party, EPP-European People's. "EPP - European People's Party". EPP - European People's Party. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  41. ^ "Von der Leyen seeks new recruits after Parliament torpedoes two". POLITICO. 2019-09-30. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  42. ^ "Hungary names EU ambassador as new Commission nominee". POLITICO. 2019-10-01. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  43. ^ "Olivér Várhelyi: Europe's under-fire gatekeeper". POLITICO. 2021-10-05. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  44. ^ "What EU leaders really decided on rule of law". POLITICO. 2020-07-21. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  45. ^ "2020 Rule of law report - Communication and country chapters". European Commission - European Commission. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  46. ^ "EU in crisis over Hungary and Poland's €1.8T hold-up". POLITICO. 2020-11-16. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  47. ^ "EU leaders back deal to end budget blockade by Hungary and Poland". POLITICO. 2020-12-10. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  48. ^ "Hungary: Recent Rule-of-Law Developments". eucrim.eu. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  49. ^ "17 EU leaders sign LGBTQ+ rights letter in response to Hungary anti-gay law". POLITICO. 2021-06-24. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  50. ^ "Von der Leyen chides Hungary over bill to restrict LGBTQ depictions". POLITICO. 2021-06-16. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  51. ^ "Hungary's law against gay 'propaganda' draws fire from E.U." www.washingtonpost.com. 2021-06-23. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  52. ^ Hungary, About (2021-06-23). "Official government statement responding to the comments of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Hungary's child protection law". www.abouthungary.hu. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  53. ^ "EU founding values: Commission starts legal action against Hungary and Poland for violations of fundamental rights of LGBTIQ people". European Commission - European Commission. 2021-07-15. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  54. ^ "Commission refers HUNGARY to the Court of Justice of the EU over violation of LGBTIQ rights". European Commission - European Commission. 2022-06-15. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  55. ^ "The infringement against Hungary: Behind the scenes". www.ilga-europe.org. 2023-03-24. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  56. ^ "Commission proposes €7.5B funding cut for Hungary but opens compromise path". POLITICO. 2022-09-18. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
  57. ^ a b "Rule of law conditionality mechanism: Council decides to suspend €6.3 billion given only partial remedial action by Hungary". www.consilum.europa.eu. 2022-12-12. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
  58. ^ "Hungary vows to overhaul its judiciary, hoping to unlock EU funds". POLITICO. 2022-11-07. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
  59. ^ Abnett, Kate; Strupczewski, Jan; Strupczewski, Jan (2022-12-22). "EU holds back all of Hungary's cohesion funds over rights concerns". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
  60. ^ "Historic new year for Croatia as it joins euro, Schengen area". Reuters. 2023-01-01. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
  61. ^ "Hungary denounces EU decision to cut off funds to universities". Reuters. 2023-01-12. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
  62. ^ "Brussels hits Orbán where it really hurts — education". POLITICO. 2023-02-06. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
  63. ^ "Germany, France join EU proceedings against Hungary over anti-LGBT law". Reuters. 2023-04-06. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  64. ^ Times, The Brussels. "Belgium drives EU proceedings against Hungarian 'anti-LGBTQ' law". www.brusselstimes.com. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  65. ^ AFP. "Hungary Adopts Justice Reform To Unlock EU Funds". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
  66. ^ "Parliament easily backs measure aimed at restraining Hungary's EU presidency". POLITICO. 2023-06-01. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
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