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Activities of Balázs HIDVÉGHI related to 2021/2103(INI)

Plenary speeches (1)

Shrinking space for civil society in Europe (debate)
2022/03/07
Dossiers: 2021/2103(INI)

Amendments (47)

Amendment 2 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5
— having regard to the Commission communication of 20 July 2021 entitled ‘2021 Rule of Law Report – The rule of law situation in the European Union’ (COM(2021)0700),deleted
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 13 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Citation 23
— having regard to its resolution of 14 November 2018 on the need for a comprehensive EU mechanism for the protection of democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights4 , _________________ 4 OJ C 363, 28.10.2020, p. 45.deleted
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 14 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Citation 24
— having regard to its resolution of 7 October 2020 on the establishment of an EU Mechanism on Democracy, the Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights5 , _________________ 5deleted OJ C 395, 29.9.2021, p. 2.
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 16 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Citation 28
— having regard to its resolution of 24 June 2021 on the Commission’s 2020 Rule of Law Report9 , _________________ 9 Texts adopted, P9_TA(2021)0313.deleted
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 19 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
B. whereas civil society organisations (CSOs) are non-profit making organisations independent of public institutions and commercial interests, which represent a wide range of worldviews and whose activities contribute to the realisation of EUa diverse set of values and fundamental rights; whereas human rights defenders, activists and informal groups are also key actors in civil society;
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 31 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
G. whereas freedom of expression has been restricted in some Member States; whereas strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) have also been used to target civil society organisations (CSOs) and human rights defenders; whereas these exert a severe chilling effect oncertain CSOs representing a radical left-wing and liberal ideology have gained significant influence in decision-making at the EU level; whereas these CSOs carry out their work claiming to be independent, but in reality, they serve the political interests of their funders; whereas this significant influence could be used by foreedom of expressionign powers to pursue interference goals;
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 34 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
G a. whereas these CSOs have a significant role in drafting the European Commission’s annual rule of law report;
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 35 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
H. whereas freedom of association is being eroded in some Member States;deleted
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 40 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
I. whereas in some Member States, restrictions have been imposed with the deliberate aim of limiting civic space and are accompanied by legal, administrative and fiscal harassment, criminalisation and negative rhetoric aimed at stigmatising and delegitimising CSOs and draining their capacity to carry out their legitimate work; whereas hate speech, harassment and attacks also emanate from non-state actors; whereas CSOs working on women’s rights, including sexual and reproductive health and rights, environmental issues and the protection of minorities and LGBTI rights, as well as those providing assistance to asylum seekers and those involved in search and rescue operations, are particularly exposed;deleted
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 53 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
J. whereas certain Member States have placed restrictions on CSOs’ ability to engage in political activities; whereas in others, accusations that CSOs are political have become tools to stigmatise and delegitimise them; whereas CSOs report discriminatory and restrictive funding practices in certain Member Stateintroduced transparency requirements regarding the funding of CSOs;
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 57 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
K. whereas policies and practices instilling a chilling effect on civic space have been adopted in certain Member Stsome CSOs may have a significant influence on public life and public debates with the aim of achieving self- censorship and deterring civic actors from exercising their rightshich justify their funding being subject to strict transparency measures, especially if the funding comes from outside the Union;
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 59 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Recital K a (new)
K a. whereas transparency is a legitimate requirement which is of outmost importance for all European Union institutions, including the European Commission and the European Parliament;
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 65 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Recital K b (new)
K b. whereas the European Union also maintains a transparency register of organizations wishing to influence decision-makers;
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 71 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Recital M
M. whereas the emergence of government-organised non-governmental organisations (GONGOs) designed to support the political legitimacy of those in power constitutes one of the gravest forms of attack against CSOs, jeopardising their existence by undermining active citizenship;deleted
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 74 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Recital N
N. whereas while CSOs increasingly perform economic activities and contribute to the social economy, no legislative steps have been taken to unlock their operations at EU level;deleted
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 76 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Recital O
O. whereas foreign funding has been the target of legal and political attacks in some Member States;deleted
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 92 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1. Asserts the crucial role played by CSOs in the realisation of EUa wide range of values and fundamental rights, and the implementation of EU policies and strategies; stresses their key contribution to informed public debate, articulating aspirations present in society, giving a voice to vulnerable and marginalised people, providing expertise in policy- making, promoting active citizenship and acting as schools of democracy;
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 100 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises that for civil society organisations to thrive, civic space must be an enabling and safe environment free from undue interference, intimidation, harassment and chilling effector all kinds of organisations, including organisations that represent traditional values;
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 105 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Warns about the degradation of civic space throughout the EU with policies hampering CSOs’ operations, their access to sustainable funding and their ability to participate in decision- making; condemns any form of harassment, smearing, stigmatisation, criminalisation and scapegoating of CSOincreasing activity of biased radical left-wing CSOs which act as political activist organisations; underlines that these CSOs often have little connection to society and people, but serve as political pressure groups receiving funding from abroad and acting in the political interests of their funders;
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 110 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Notes with concern that these biased radical left-wing CSOs are in reality working to create an intolerant environment where only their own views are presented as acceptable, and label everyone else with different views as "extremists";
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 111 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3 b. Condemns that CSOs representing traditional values are often squeezed out of the public discourse;
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 113 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Agrees with the Commission that when civil society’s space to operate shrinks, it is a sign that the rule of law is at risk; urges the Commission, therefore, to step up and structure its monitoring of the situation of civic space in the Member States by creating a ‘European civic space index’ based on existing frameworks for measuring civic space, and by dedicating to civic space a fully-fledged chapter including country recommendations in its annual rule of law report;deleted
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 117 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the Commission’s acknowledgement of the importance of civil society in a number of EU policies and strategies; stresses, however, that the fragmented nature of this approach results in little effective improvement of the situation of CSOs on the ground;deleted
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 123 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Urges the Commission, therefore, to adopt a comprehensive civil society strategy that integrates all existing tools, fills monitoring, support and protection gaps, and gives genuine political recognition to the crucial role played by CSOs in the realisation of EU values and policies;deleted
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 134 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1
An enabling regulatory and political environment free from chilling effects, threats and attackenvironment for all kinds of civil society organisations
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 136 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses that the ability of CSOs to act depends on the existence of an enabling legal and political environment, in particular on the exercise of freedom of association, peaceful assembly and expression; urges Member States to guarantee the exercise of these rights in conformity with international standards; highlights the need to ensure that civil society organisations operate in a transparent manner, with special regard to funding;
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 142 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Considers that the contribution of CSOs to the single market and the social economy, as well as their role in the realisation of EU values and policies, is a strong argument for removing the barriers to their operations at EU level; calls on the Commission, therefore, to propose legislation to approximate Member State laws in this regard;deleted
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 149 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
9. Calls on the Commission to include a systematic civic space check in its impact assessments in order to prevent planned legislation from having negative effects on civic space;deleted
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 165 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. Warns against the detrimental impact of policies and rhetoric instilling a chilling effect on civic space; urges the Commission to make the analysis of chilling effects a key aspect of its annual rule of law report, to build on case C- 78/1810 to challenge measures having a chilling effect on the exercise of Charter rights when similar approaches are possible and to apply for interim measures to avoid irreparable damage while judicial review is ongoing; _________________ 10 Judgment of the Court (Grand Chamber) of 18 June 2020, European Commission v Hungary, C-78/18, EU:C:2020:476.deleted
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 182 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Calls for the setting up of an EU alert mechanism allowing CSOs and human rights defenders to register attacks and seek support;deleted
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 188 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2
Sustainable and non-discriminatory access to resourceTransparency requirements
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 192 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Urges the Commission to propose a comprehensive set of measures and recommendations to ensure long-term financing for CSOs; stresses the importance of securing complementary sources of funding; emphasises that public funding should cover all types of civil society activities;deleted
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 199 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Highlights that in case C-78/18 the CJEU confirmed that certain civil society organisations may have a significant influence on public life and public debate having regard to the aims which they pursue and the means at their disposal; expresses concern that this significant influence could be used by foreign powers to pursue interference and destabilization goals;
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 203 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15 b. Underlines that the CJEU judgement in case C-78/18 also confirmed that the objective of transparency and, furthermore, traceability of movements of capital intended for organisations which participate in public life might be regarded as an overriding reason in the public interest;
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 204 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)
15 c. Underlines that it is a legitimate expectation on the part of society that CSOs should operate in a transparent manner, including the source of their funding, especially those receiving foreign funding;
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 205 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 d (new)
15 d. Welcomes, therefore, the adoption of legislation by Member States requiring higher level of transparency from civil society organisations with regard to their funding in line with the principle of proportionality; encourages other Member States to consider adopting similar transparency requirements;
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 206 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Is gravely concerned by the emergence of GONGOs and related discriminatory and often opaque public funding practices; warns against their detrimental effect on the perceived legitimacy of CSOs and hence on citizens’ willingness to engage in active citizenship;deleted
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 212 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Welcomes the adoption with an increased budget of the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme; calls on the Commission to actively consult CSOs in the definition of work programmes and funding mechanisms so as to ensure transparency, flexibility and user- friendliness; welcomes re-granting mechanisms in the Union Values strand;deleted
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 227 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. Urges the Commission to ensure that EU funds are only awarded to organisations that are strictly independent from any government and fully adhere to EU values;deleted
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 236 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. Condemns attempts by certain Member States to impose limitations on foreign funding and the related political narratives they have promulgated and measures they have taken with the aim of stigmatising CSOs;deleted
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 248 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Calls for an EU-level definition of the concept of public benefit, as that would boost cross-border donations insofar as it would enable mutual recognition of public benefit status and equal treatment in terms of the related advantages;deleted
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 253 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3
Civil dialogue and transparent participation in policy- making
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 257 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Stresses the importance of civil dialogue in informed policy-making and; emphasises that the privileged position of CSOs in contact with citizens, and their expertise, confers on them a key role in civil dialoguee need to ensure transparency when it comes to the involvement of CSOs in policy-making;
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 263 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
22. Regrets that civil dialogue often remains an ad hoc process; calls on the Member States to develop coherent policy frameworks that ensure structured, predictable and long-term processes, inclusIs gravely concerned that the European Commission outsources the work on the annual rule of law report to non-elected and ideologically motivated CSOs; highlights that this practice is antidemocratic as it gives participation and systematic review; calls on the Commission to provide recommendationsower to CSOs without any democratic legitimacy; underlines that this leads to unbalanced and biased on the analysis of existing practicereporting and the application of double standards, especially in relation to conservative right-wing governments;
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 272 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22 a. Regrets that the European Commission in its annual rule of law report copies the unfounded allegations of politically motivated civil society organisations without any control or fact- checking;
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 277 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
23. WelcomNotes the attribution to a Commission Vice-President of the responsibility to maintain an open, transparent and regular dialogue with civil society; stresses that civil dialogue should be further operationalisedunderlines that this shall involve dialogue with all kinds of CSOs representing a wide range of views and not only those representing radical left- wing and liberal views; stresses that civil dialogue should always be conducted in a transparent manner;
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
Amendment 280 #
Balázs HIDVÉGHI, Nicolas BAY
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
24. Calls on the Commission to leverage the definition of national programmes implementing EU funds and the implementation by Member States of EU strategies and action plans to requiresupport Member States to put in place effective and transparent civil dialogue mechanisms;
2021/11/16
Committee: LIBE
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