Den 1 oktober är det utfrågning av Mr Tibor Navracsics från Ungern som är föreslagen som ny EU-kommissionär för DG Culture, Education, Youth and Citizenship!
We call on the European Parliament to rigorously scrutinize the candidate’s views and independence from the current Hungarian government as well as his full allegiance to the European fundamental values.
On October 1st the European Parliament will hear Mr. Tibor Navracsics, Commissioner-designate for Culture, Education, Youth and Citizenship and former minister of the Hungarian government. Notwithstanding the personal profile of the candidate, it is to be recalled that Mr. Victor Orban’s government has taken and is taking unprecedented and unacceptable measures that infringe human rights, including the right to freedom of expression. It has also implemented policy measures that have clearly undermined the cultural sector’s development as a whole. This has been widely and strongly contested by civil society in Hungary and cannot be passed in silence.
Therefore, we call on the European Parliament to rigorously scrutinize the candidate’s views and independence from the current Hungarian government as well as his full allegiance to the European fundamental values. Should this scrutiny provide sufficient guarantees, Mr. Tibor Navracsics’ appointment could also represent a possible means to enhance the limited impact that European views and regulation on rights, culture and education has had until now on the Hungarian government and society. Conversely, should the hearing fail to provide the necessary guarantees, we call for a rotation of portfolios between Member States.