EU executive backs EU lawmakers on rights in Hungary - Timmermans

STRASBOURG (Reuters) - The European Commission backed on Tuesday a European Parliament report condemning Hungary for abusing human rights and for the mistreatment of Roma communities, as EU lawmakers debated whether to impose sanctions on Budapest.

"Democracy in our member states in our European Union cannot exist without the rule of law and the respect of fundamental rights," the EU executive's First Vice-President Frans Timmermans told the European Parliament in Strasbourg.