EU Commission takes Hungary to European Court of Justice for law on homosexuality – News

  • The EU Commission is taking Hungary twice to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) for alleged violations of EU law.
  • On the one hand, there is a law restricting information about homosexuality and transsexuality.
  • The other case concerns the actions of the Hungarian authorities against the independent radio station Klubradio.

The EU Commission monitors compliance with the rule of law in the international community. If Hungary does not comply with the ECJ rulings that are now to be expected, there is a risk of high fines. Critics have long accused right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban of undermining the rights of minorities, democratic institutions and freedom of the press, of subjugating the judiciary and stirring up resentment against foreigners.

The homosexual law had brought Orban strong headwind in the EU last year. “This Hungarian law is a disgrace,” said EU Commission President von der Leyen at the time. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte made it clear that he sees no place for Hungary in the EU if the government in Budapest continues like this.

Homosexual Law in Hungary


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The law came into force in July 2021. It bans publications accessible to children that depict non-heterosexual relationships. Advertising is also prohibited in which homosexuals or transsexuals appear as part of normality. Orban himself has dismissed any criticism of the new rules – claiming he is actually defending gay rights.

However, the EU Commission is of the opinion that the law discriminates against minorities on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity, among other things, and violates fundamental rights and EU values. Exactly one year ago, the authority initiated so-called infringement proceedings against Hungary. Budapest, meanwhile, did not assuage concerns.

The same applies to the action against the club radio, probably the last professional independent radio station in the country. The station was forced to cease FM broadcasting in February 2021 because the government media agency failed to renew the broadcasting license. Since the right-wing Prime Minister Orban took office in 2010, the private broadcaster has been regularly subjected to repression by the media authorities. Among other things, before the license was revoked, he was only allowed to broadcast in the greater Budapest area. Currently, the club radio only broadcasts its program via the Internet – albeit with a much smaller reach.

The EU Commission justified the ECJ complaint with the fact that Hungary had applied the rules for extending the transmission frequency in an inappropriate and discriminatory manner.

The EU Commission is also pushing ahead with proceedings against Poland


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The EU Commission is pushing ahead with proceedings against Warsaw in the dispute over the Polish rule of law. As the Brussels authorities announced, they initiated the next step in a so-called infringement procedure against Poland. Poland now has two months to respond to the statement from Brussels and to dispel the concerns.

Otherwise, the Commission could take the country to the European Court of Justice (ECJ). Financial sanctions could result.

The decision is based on several rulings by the Polish Constitutional Court, which the EU Commission believes violate, among other things, the primacy of EU law and the binding effect of ECJ rulings. The authority also expressed serious doubts about the independence and impartiality of the constitutional court.

EU takes action against Hungary in petrol dispute

Meanwhile, the EU Commission has taken legal action against Hungary in the dispute over different fuel prices for domestic and foreign vehicles. Industry Commissioner Thierry Breton said that the practice of excluding vehicles with foreign license plates from discounted fuel is illegal. Such a step disrupts the single EU internal market as a means of overcoming crises and instability.

In view of the high fuel prices, Hungary subsidizes refueling, but excludes, among other things, trucks with foreign license plates and more than 3.5 tons in weight.

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