17 EU countries condemn Hungary’s anti-LGBTQ laws, urging action from Brussels

Seventeen European Union countries issued a joint statement on 27 May, accusing Hungary of violating core EU values through recent legislation targeting LGBTQ+ communities, escalating tensions between Budapest and a majority of EU member states.

The laws, passed under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government, include measures that effectively ban Pride marches and restrict gender recognition, prompting widespread criticism and calls for intervention by the European Commission.

In March 2025, Hungary’s parliament, dominated by Orbán’s Fidesz party, enacted legislation creating a legal framework to prohibit Pride marches and authorising police use of facial recognition technology to identify attendees. In April, constitutional amendments were approved, recognising only two sexes – male and female – effectively denying legal recognition to transgender and non-binary individuals.

These moves have deepened concerns about Hungary’s adherence to EU principles, particularly as Orbán’s government has also clashed with Brussels over democratic backsliding, judicial independence, and its reluctance to fully support EU sanctions against Russia amid the Ukraine conflict.

The joint statement, signed by Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden, expressed “high alarm” over Hungary’s actions, which they said contravene “fundamental values of human dignity, freedom, equality, and respect for human rights”.

The countries urged Hungary to revise the legislation and called on the European Commission to use its full authority, including potential legal action, if Budapest fails to comply. The Commission has the power to initiate infringement proceedings or withhold EU funds for breaches of EU law.

The statement coincided with a hearing on 27 May, as part of the EU’s Article 7 procedure, a mechanism launched in 2018 to address Hungary’s perceived threats to EU values, including media freedom and minority rights. While the process could theoretically lead to Hungary losing its EU voting rights, diplomats indicate insufficient support among the 27 member states for such a drastic step, requiring unanimous approval.

Hungary’s Minister for EU Affairs, Janos Boka, dismissed claims of a Pride ban, stating at the hearing, “There is no such thing in Hungary as a Pride ban,” and expressed hope that discussions would provide a “more nuanced view” of the legislation.

However, activists and human rights organizations argue the laws create a de facto ban. Amnesty International called the measures a “blatant attack on freedom of assembly and expression,” noting that facial recognition technology could deter participation through intimidation.

Orbán has publicly discouraged Pride events, while his chief of staff, Gergely Gulyas, declared that Hungary “does not have to tolerate Pride marching through downtown Budapest”. Fidesz has justified the laws by claiming Pride marches could harm children, prioritising their protection over assembly rights.

European Commissioner for Justice, Michael McGrath, emphasized that “freedom of assembly is a fundamental right” and “not a threat to children or anyone,” adding that the Commission is exploring all options to address Hungary’s actions. Human Rights Watch further criticized Hungary, warning that the laws “systematically erode LGBTQ+ rights and entrench discrimination,” part of a broader pattern under Orbán’s rule since 2010.

This latest controversy builds on years of friction between Orbán and the EU. Hungary has faced accusations of undermining judicial independence, curbing media freedom, and adopting a foreign policy often at odds with EU consensus, including its soft stance on Russia and reluctance to fully back Ukraine’s defence efforts.

Sources: Reuters, The Guardian, BBC, The Budapest Times, European Commission Press Releases, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, edited by g.g.

File photo: Participants march during the 28th Budapest Pride parade in support for LGBT rights in Budapest, Hungary, 15 July 2023. [EPA-EFE/Tamas Kovacs]