What Seán spoke about.

Mr President, ponder this: Poland and Hungary are the biggest beneficiaries of European funding. In 2018, Poland paid in EUR 3.98 billion and, in return, received EUR 16.35 billion, four times more than they paid in. Hungary paid in EUR 1.076 billion and received six times more than that, EUR 6.298 billion. At least the Portuguese Presidency moved forward on the Article 7 suspension procedure by organising hearings on Hungary and Poland. It is my hope that this will provide a sufficient basis to stop the rule of law backsliding in these and, potentially, other Member States. Without respect for the rule of law, we cannot have a fair and just society. With regard to Poland, we see major issues with the Constitutional Tribunal, the disciplinary regime against judges and a muzzle law against judges who criticise the Government’s judicial overhaul and the dismissal of judges. In bullyboy Viktor Orbán’s Hungary, attacks against LGBTI people, judges, journalists, academics and activists have increased since the beginning of the pandemic. Hungary’s new law will have devastating effects. It means that vulnerable young people will be deprived of important support. It is essential that young people especially be ensured access to comprehensive sexuality and relationship education, which is non—judgmental and objective. The adopted law is a direct contradiction of the values and respect for human dignity on which the Union is founded. There are conditionality clauses in relation to European funding. We should use them.