Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2011-07-05-Speech-2-014-000"
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"en.20110705.5.2-014-000"2
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".
Mr President, President of the Commission, Prime Minister, a rotating presidency has two tasks. Firstly, where current affairs are concerned it has to make progress on the dossiers and bring them to a conclusion where possible, and secondly, it should set an example to the rest of the European Union.
Where the first task is concerned, Prime Minister, I should like to extend my warm thanks to your political staff and officials, because many issues have been resolved positively. The Croatia dossier – which was, of course, particularly close to my heart – was dealt with well, as was the Roma strategy. I would like to thank you warmly for this.
Where the second task is concerned, however, I have some criticisms to make. Substantial criticism has been expressed here in Parliament of both the media law and the Constitution. You may say that these are internal matters. However, you know very well, Prime Minister, that in today’s Europe internal policy is also European policy – after all, that is the very point of Europe – and that European policy also has a corresponding impact domestically. This criticism by Europe is therefore entirely reasonable. You did, after all, have to amend the failed media law – even though the European Commission was very mild in its judgment of this act. Where the Constitution is concerned, you know that the Venice Commission has criticised not just the process, but also some essential content of this Constitution. Even the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr Ban Ki-moon, has expressed significant criticism.
Prime Minster, you are always saying that you want to connect with 1949. In the meantime, however, there was 1956. As a very young man in Austria I experienced this revolution, with its great aims of pluralism, freedom of the media and freedom of expression. It would be good to connect with 1956 again; to connect with the year of great revolution and of such freedoms, which are European values and European aims. That is not just a criticism that is made of your government by the socialists, as you are always saying – in your capacity as leader of the Fidesz party, at least. You yourself were present a few days ago when Hillary Clinton made some highly critical statements in the Hungarian Parliament at an event honouring Tom Lantos, an outstanding Hungarian-born member of the US Congress. Like many others in her country, Mrs Clinton called for vigilance where democratic development is concerned. We all need to be vigilant – not just in Hungary, but in view of developments in Hungary in particular.
Yes, you have a two-thirds majority. In theory, that means you can do what you like. However, in the European model of democracy what your critics are saying and what the opposition are saying also counts; not just what the two-thirds majority is saying.
Prime Minister, you have expressed your thanks to the Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats) – but only to that group. That is your prerogative, although it is the first time in all the many presidencies that I have experienced that a presidency has thanked only one party – its own party. A democracy, however, includes not just those who support you, but also those who express criticism. At least, that is what we understand by European democracy. I would like to see you moving somewhat closer towards the goals of pluralism, freedom of the media and freedom of expression. As Tom Lantos – that great Hungarian – said both in America and in Hungary, it is right and important – particularly in view of the responsibility that Europe has – to say yes to pluralism, to freedom of the media, to freedom of expression and yes, too, to criticism, because criticism is part of democracy just as much as those who support you, whether or not you have a two-thirds majority. Majorities are there to be utilised, but they must also show due regard for their opponents and critics. At least, that is our understanding of European democracy."@en1
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