United Nations independent expert Michel Forst has called on the Government of Hungary to refrain from stigmatising and intimidating human rights defenders, and ensure that they can conduct their work in an enabling legal and administrative environment.

The European Commission sees no systemic threat to democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights in Hungary, although, it has brought several procedures against it for infringing EU laws, said Commissioner Vera Jourová in a debate with MEPs on Wednesday.

A new Freedom House report says Hungary, driving the decline in Central and Eastern Europe, fell out of the category of 'consolidated democracies'. The demotion to 'semi-consolidated democracy' came after seven straight years of score declines.