Over two-thirds of countries belonging to the European Union signed on to a declaration Tuesday urging the European Commission to crack down on Hungary over the country’s laws restricting LGBT events.
The governments of 20 countries called on the European Commission, which monitors the respect of EU laws, “to expeditiously make full use of the rule of law toolbox at its disposal in case these measures are not revised accordingly.”
“We are highly alarmed by these developments which run contrary to the fundamental values of human dignity, freedom, equality and respect for human rights,” the joint statement read. “We call upon Hungary to revise these measures, to ensure the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all its citizens are respected and protected, thus complying with its international obligations.”
Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Greece, Cyprus, and Malta signed the declaration.
The EU’s campaign against Hungary responds to legislation the country’s parliament passed in March banning LGBT pride events, including a popular march in the capital city of Budapest that draws thousands annually.
The bill, which was backed by Prime Minister Viktor Orban, an ally of President Donald Trump, also allowed for the use of facial recognition software to identify and penalize people who organize or participate in such events. Attending a prohibited event carries fines of over $500, according to the law, which proponents said was needed to protect minors from “woke ideology” and “gender madness.”
The legislation expanded on a 2021 “child protection” law that prohibits the “depiction or promotion” of homosexuality to minors. Public Pride marches are now categorized as events that violate the 2021 legislation, under the new law passed in March. In April, the parliament also passed an amendment to Hungary’s constitution providing additional legal support for the law. The constitutional amendment bolsters the 2021 “child protection” law by stating that children’s rights to moral, physical, and spiritual development supersede any right except for the right to life, including that to assemble peacefully.
On Tuesday, EU ministers met in Brussels to hold a hearing on how to target Hungary’s law. They called on Hungary to revise the law, saying it contradicted fundamental EU values.
In response to the hearing, Hungary’s Minister for European Union Affairs, Janos Boka, slammed accusations that his country is anti-LGBT.
“There is no such thing in Hungary as a Pride ban,” he said. “At today’s hearing, I will explain to my colleagues the constitutional and legal framework. I hope that after this discussion, my colleagues at the table will walk out with a more nuanced view of the Hungarian legislation.”
The standoff between Brussels and Hungary comes as Orban, an avid nationalist, has long feuded with the EU.
“Brussels is not the first empire that has set its eyes on Hungary,” Orban said, referring to the EU’s de facto capital during a speech in March 2024. “The peoples of Europe today are afraid that Brussels will take away their freedom … If we want to preserve Hungary’s freedom and sovereignty, we have no choice: We have to occupy Brussels.”
Critics have claimed Orban is a fascist, saying he has veered into dangerous territory with his break with the EU over restricting LGBT events.
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“This is fascism, not child protection,” Budapest Pride organizers wrote in March. “It would never occur to a democratic leader to restrict the fundamental rights of those who disagree with them.”
“We are asking Viktor Orbán’s government: How will they guarantee that all Hungarian citizens, including LGBTQ people, can live and protest freely? If they cannot guarantee this, it is an admission of their own incompetence,” organizers continued.