Poland has said it will veto any attempt to impose sanctions on Hungary, after the European Parliament voted to censure the country for so-called breaches of the EU’s core values.
MEPs voted 448 to 197 to back the Sargentini Report, written by a Dutch Green MEP of the same name. The report accused Hungary of threatening the rule of law by restricting press and academic freedoms, a crack down on NGO funding and denying rights to minorities and migrants.
According to the Financial Times, Poland said that it viewed the move against Hungary “with concern”.
“Every member state of the EU has the sovereign right to carry out internal reforms as it deems appropriate,” Poland’s Foreign Ministry said.
“Actions directed against member states only serve to deepen the divisions within the EU, increasing the current lack of trust of citizens in European institutions. Poland will vote in the forums of the European institutions against potential sanctions against Hungary," the Ministry added.