Portugal, along with 16 other EU Member States, urged the European Commission to take action against Hungary’s ban on the LGTBI+ march planned for June.
The call to action, supported by Portugal, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Slovenia, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Sweden, was announced by the Dutch government, which initiated the statement.
This matter is on the agenda of today’s General Affairs Council in Brussels, which includes discussions on Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union, concerning the potential withdrawal of Hungary’s voting rights due to various breaches of the rule of law.
On Monday, Hungarian police prohibited a planned demonstration against homophobia and transphobia set for June 1, citing a contentious law that bans LGBT+ marches under the guise of protecting minors.
This marks the first instance where Hungarian police have invoked the law passed by Viktor Orbán’s government in March, which restricts events that promote gender change or homosexuality.
The EU has condemned the legislation as an infringement on minority rights.
The signatory countries expressed significant concern regarding recent legislative and constitutional amendments they claim violate the fundamental rights of LGBTIQ+ individuals, which were enacted by the Hungarian Parliament on March 18 and April 14, 2025.
These legislative changes, framed as protective measures for children, also allow for fines against participants and organizers of such events, as well as the implementation of facial recognition technology.
“We are alarmed about the implications of these measures for freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and privacy rights,” the signatories declared.
Additionally, the 17 nations expressed their deep alarm regarding political developments in Hungary that contradict the fundamental values of dignity, freedom, equality, and human rights, as outlined in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union.
The statement publicly calls on the Hungarian government to reconsider these measures to uphold and safeguard human rights and fundamental freedoms for all citizens, thereby meeting international obligations.
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