European Union ministers gathered in Brussels on Monday to hear Hungary's response to allegations that it has violated the bloc's fundamental principles including media freedom, religious freedom and the rule of law.

At the first formal hearing held by the General Affairs Council, Hungarian justice minister Judit Varga was questioned about claims Prime Minister Viktor Orban has moved to strengthen his government's control over the press, courts and academics.

Varga argued that Hungary wasn't in violation of the rule of law and that it "has different meanings in different member states and there is no one-size-fits-all solution to enforce it."

Her comments were dismissed by Frans Timmermans, vice president of the EU Commission, who said the rule of law "was a common EU concept." Adding that the "European way of life" is where there is a "separation of powers, judges should rule without political interference, free media, civil society should be able to flourish, academia should operate freely." 

Last year, more than two-thirds of the EU parliament voted to trigger Article 7, the EU's most serious disciplinary procedure, against Hungary. The first such vote against any member state under EU rules.

The decision followed a report authored by then Green MEP Judith Sargentini, which accused Orban's government of posing a "systematic threat" to the EU's fundamental principles, citing changes to the electoral system, systemic corruption and a restriction of media freedom.

The Hungarian government has maintained the process is a "political witch hunt." In a statement released on Monday, state secretary Zoltán Kovács said the hearing was "all about … revenge on Hungary for standing up against the influx of immigrants and insisting that Europe's Schengen border be secured."

Varga tweeted asking for the EU to "close this unfortunate chapter and focus on the vast challenges ahead of us."

Hungary's voting rights and the amount of EU funding it receives are at stake. Particularly because the EU Commission is looking into making handouts conditional on adherence to the rule of law.