The handover of the presidency of the European Union from Belgium to Hungary in January 2011 caused something of a stir. The Hungarian government, challenged over the passing of a law that is widely regarded as suppressing freedom, was emphatically called to account on the question of human rights and democratic principles – something rare in “internal” EU politics.
As Jean-François Drevet shows here, Hungary’s assumption of the presidency of the Union in this context raises three important questions: what is the role of the six-monthly presidencies in a 27-member Union that now has a President of the European Council and a High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security? How can the Union enforce respect for human rights and democracy within the member states? And can a country pass a law that applies to the members of the nation specified in that law (which is, hence, likely to apply beyond its borders)? This column examines these three questions and points up the various related issues.
