A delegation from the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) visited the National Judicial Council on 15 April 2025.
The members of the delegation were Tineke STRIK, Head of Delegation, Sophie WILMÈS, Pernando BARRENA ARZA, Krzysztof ŚMISZEK and Michał WAWRYKIEWICZ, members of the Committee, Ludger BRUCKWILDER, Helle JACOBSEN, Ciara DESMOND, Aleksejs DIMITROVS, Lide IRUIN IBARZABAL, Marlies DESOMER, Cornelia GUSA, accompanying persons.
The National Judicial Council was represented by Dr Csaba Pecsenye, President, Dr Rita Varga, Vice President, Dr Fatime Mária Félegyházy Megyesy, Dr József Surányi, members of the National Judicial Council and Dr Krisztián Legény, Head of Department.
The members of the LIBE delegation were informed about the administrative model of the Hungarian court system, the competences and functioning of the National Judicial Council.
The President of the National Judicial Council reported on the so-called quadripartite agreement, the circumstances of its creation and its annulment. In this context, he also reported that the dialogue between the National Judicial Council and the governmental instituitions responsible for justice had become more difficult.
The members of the National Judicial Council described the income situation of judges and court staff, the wage tension that had arisen and the efforts being made to find a solution.
The participants discussed the situation of the judicial freedom of expression in Hungary, the lessons learned and the results of the February demonstration.
The participants reviewed the situation of preliminary ruling procedures in Hungarian court proceedings and the application of the rulings of the European Court of Justice.
The members of the LIBE delegation, thanking for the dialogue and the information provided, pointed out that they would use the information received in the preparation of their report. They also requested that the dialogue be maintained.
23 April 2025.
dr. Csaba Pecsenye
President of the National Judicail Concil