The European Union has placed human rights, democracy, and the rule of law firmly at the core of its structure, and so its willingness to defend those values is crucial to its credibility.
Faced with a deteriorating situation on these three fronts in Hungary, Brussels has failed to show the necessary resolve.
Unless it can marshal a stronger response, its failure is likely to do long-term damage in Budapest and to the European Union itself.\n \nAs Back our independent journalism by becoming a supporting memberGet EU news that matters
Andrew Rettman is EUobserver's Foreign Affairs Editor. He has been writing about foreign and security affairs for EUobserver since 2005. He is Polish but grew up in the UK. He has also written for The Guardian, The Telegraph, and The Times of London.
Andrew Rettman is EUobserver's Foreign Affairs Editor. He has been writing about foreign and security affairs for EUobserver since 2005. He is Polish but grew up in the UK. He has also written for The Guardian, The Telegraph, and The Times of London.