Reynders said, however, that he hoped the governments of the two countries would give consideration to finding a solution to outstanding issues.

Helena Dalli, Commissioner for Equality, referring to a Hungarian bill on stipulating that fathers must be male and mothers female, called on Hungary to observe international law regarding the family.

Balázs Hidvéghi, MEP of Hungary’s ruling Fidesz, told MTI that Monday’s session had been “the usual, one-sided performance” by left-liberal MEPs, who “regularly attack Hungary”.

He insisted that the Article 7 procedure was politically motivated, and “entirely based on lies”. “Expropriating the rule of law for political purposes will undermine trust between member states and seriously impact EU unity,” he said.

Concerning family law, Hidvéghi said such regulations were exclusively a national competence, adding it was “absurd” that the issue had been put on the committee’s agenda.

“Using the rule of law as an excuse, they are seeking to prescribe what we should think about families, marriages, or raising children,” he said.

Anna Donáth, MEP of the Hungarian opposition Momentum Movement, accused the Hungarian government of “deliberately undermining human rights”.

She said that the draft constitutional amendment concerning sexual minorities served a political purpose to “divert attention from another proposal concerning public funds”.