The left-wing liberal forces do not want to accept that some people think differently about Europe s Christian roots, immigration, multiculturalism and the role of families, the Hungarian justice minister said in an interview with the Hungarian public media on Sunday. Judit Varga highlighted that although they had just lost a battle at the EU summit, they would not give up the fight.

Evaluating the EU summit which ended earlier this week, the Hungarian justice minister said that Hungary had won a battle, but the „war” continues in the EU institutions.

Although the left-wing liberal forces have lost a battle as they were not able to include a political pressure tool, an „ideological weapon” in the agreement of the heads of state and government, the budget of the EU, they will not give up the fight, Ms Varga said.

The minister called the decision-making process complicated and lengthy, but the most important thing, she says, is that the European Union is still a union of states, „we are not talking about a supranational superpower,” therefore, it is the agreement of the heads of state and government, the conclusion of the European Council that sets out the policy directions.

The agreement of 21 July has set out specific directions for the seven-year budget framework and the New Generation EU rescue package and its payment method. The details of this must be approved by the EU institutions, the justice minister said.

Ms Varga emphasized that already during the coronavirus crisis, the European Parliament „was not part of the solution, but part of the problem” by „attacking” Hungary, for example, in connection with the extraordinary legal order.

Even now, they are „blindfolded” due to political bias, as they are unable to see that big EU countries are in huge trouble, since their public debt could rise to 150-160 per cent of GDP in a matter of moments, and major founding countries are facing bankruptcy, the minister pointed out.

Ms Varga added that the European Parliament has a historic responsibility in accepting an agreement that is a consensus of 27 member states based on a delicate political and financial balance.

The justice minister called it significant that with the agreement of the heads of state and government, the agreement on the multiannual financial framework is completely non-politicised, while the importance of the rule of law has been stated in principle.

She emphasized that there was no debate between the member states on the importance of European values. The EU treaties also provide for freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights.

The member states, on the other hand, have clearly taken the position that the European Commission should not threaten with „vague, elusive rule of law sanctions” on the grounds of financial discipline and the budget, the minister said.

The president of the Commission should also take into account the guidelines of the heads of state and government, as strategic political directions in the EU are laid down by the heads of state and government according to the Treaties, Ms Varga underlined. And the Commission, as the guardian of the Treaties, cannot disregard these directions.

If the heads of state and government state that the rule of law criteria cannot be linked to the system of financial conditions, it is a clear political guideline, Ms Varga stressed.

The justice minister also spoke about the ongoing Article 7 proceedings against Hungary. She said that they had already answered everything from a legal point of view and expressed her hope that the procedure could be closed „as soon as possible” during the German presidency.