Belgium (Brussels Morning Newspaper) In a bold move, European Union MPs have written a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressing their concern over Hungary’s recently passed law that aims to restrict the sharing of information related to LGBTQ+ issues with minors. They urged her to take urgent action against the Hungarian Government for their latest attacks on the rule of law and fundamental rights.
Stéphane Séjourné, President of the Renew Europe group, said:
“The latest developments in Hungary, particularly the new anti-LGBTI law encouraging people to report same-sex couples and the draft law restricting teachers’ rights and autonomy, is another blow to the rule of law that the Commission must urgently take action against. We cannot let the situation keep on deteriorating anymore. President Ursula von Der Leyen has a responsibility to use all tools at her disposal to counter Orbán’s breaches of fundamental rights and the rule of law. No more EU funds can be given to his government until the rule of law is restored. Renew Europe will continue to keep up the pressure to ensure the Hungarian Government’s attacks on our common European values won’t pass unknown.”
As the European Union struggles to reconcile the values of its member states, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has become a lightning rod for criticism. In recent periods, his government’s anti-LGBTQ+ legislation has drawn widespread condemnation from across the political spectrum.
Now, all eyes are on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as she faces mounting pressure to take action against Orbán’s government and defend the EU’s fundamental values.
At the heart of the issue is Hungary’s new law banning the portrayal of homosexuality and transgender issues to minors. Critics argue that the law is a blatant attempt to discriminate against LGBTQ+ individuals and further marginalize them in Hungarian society.
While the Hungarian government insists that the law is intended to protect children, many see it as a direct violation of EU values such as non-discrimination, tolerance, and respect for diversity.
In response, von der Leyen has promised to take action, calling the law “a disgrace” and “a clear breach of fundamental rights.” She has also pledged to use all the tools at her disposal to protect the rights of EU citizens.
But as the controversy rages on, some critics argue that von der Leyen has not done enough to counter Orbán’s breaches of fundamental rights. They say that the European Commission should take a firmer stance against Hungary and use its legal authority to enforce EU values.
One option would be to invoke Article 7 of the EU Treaty, which allows the EU to sanction member states that violate fundamental rights. While this option has been used in the past against countries like Poland, it has never been invoked against Hungary.
Critics argue that von der Leyen should consider this option, or other legal mechanisms, to put pressure on Orbán’s government and defend the EU’s core values. They say that it is not enough to merely condemn the