Seventeen European Union countries accused Hungary on Tuesday (27) to violate the bloc’s fundamental values by approving laws that target the rights of LGBTQ+persons.
In March, the Hungarian Parliament approved legislation to ban LGBTQ+ pride marches in the country and allow police to use face recognition cameras to identify people who participate in the events. It also approved constitutional changes in April, stipulating that Hungary recognizes only two sexes, male and female.
“We are very alarmed by these events that are contrary to the fundamental values of human dignity, freedom, equality and respect for human rights,” said the governments of the 17 countries in a joint statement.
They asked Hungary to review the measures and asked the European Commission to make full use of their powers if Budapest does not. The commission may take legal measures against member states if they believe they are violating EU legislation.
The statement was supported by Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Litonia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
The statement was made before an audience on Tuesday, in a process where EU ministers examine concerns that Hungary runs the risk of violating the bloc’s fundamental values.
The process could, in theory, lead Hungary to lose its right to vote for the decisions of the European Union. But diplomats say there is not enough support between the 27 member states to take this measure.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said the OS, while his chief of staff, Gergely Gulyas, stated that Hungary
Orbán, which has been in power since 2010, has been conflicting with the EU and its member countries in relation to democratic standards, minority rights and foreign policy.
