Seventeen countries in the EU fear the rights of LGBTC+ Community in Hungary
| The Hungarian Parliament has adopted a legislation in March, which creates a legal basis for prohibiting Pride processions and allows police to use facial chambers to identify participants. In April, constitutional changes were adopted, according to which Hungary recognized only two sexes – male and female. |
« We are deeply concerned about those changes, which contradict basic values such as human dignity, freedom, equality and respect for human rights, » the governments of the 17 countries said in a joint statement.
Hungary First in the EU prohibit Pride
They called on Hungary to review the measures and asked the European Commission to use all its powers if Budapest did not. The Commission may take legal action against Member States if they believe they violate EU law.
The statement was supported by Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
The declaration was made on the eve of a hearing on Tuesday on a long -standing procedure in which EU ministers consider fears that Hungary is at risk of breaching the underlying values of the Union.
This procedure can theoretically lead to Hungary’s deprivation of voting rights when making decisions in the EU. But diplomats said there was insufficient support among the 27 Member States to reach this measure.
« A more nuclear look »
On his arrival at the meeting, Hungarian EU Minister Janos Boca said: « There is no prohibition on Pride in Hungary. »
| « I hope that after these discussions, my colleagues will come up with a more nuclear look at Hungarian legislation, » he added. |
According to activists, however, measures are practically a ban.
Hungary changed its constitution to list gender
Orban, who has been in power since 2010, has repeatedly entered into conflicts with the EU and individual Member States to democratic standards, minority rights and foreign policy.
Critics accuse him of undermining the rule of law that the Hungarian government rejects.
