The main pro-European political forces in the European Parliament are urging Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, to take urgent action against two new Hungarian laws that infringe fundamental rights. The first law will encourage the denunciation of same-sex couples, while the other will restrict the autonomy of teachers.
In a letter dated 23 April, the EPP, S&D, Renew Europe, Greens/EFA and The Left Groups in Parliament denounce legislation adopted by the Hungarian Parliament to update the 2013 whistleblowers protection law. In particular, it will allow citizens to “report activities going against the Hungarian way of life”, including “activities violating the constitutionally recognised role of marriage and the family”.
“We consider these provisions, once implemented, pose a serious threat to the rights of LGBTIQ people and to freedom of expression”, MEPs hammered in a written statement.
In addition, they are concerned about a draft law on the legal status of persons employed in public education. This would allow the employer to control the electronic devices used by educational staff, reducing their freedom of expression and professional autonomy.
In view of this further deterioration of the Rule of law in Hungary, the five political groups therefore call on the European Commission not to validate the first payment request of the Hungarian recovery plan, to suspend the Hungarian programme linked to the European Social Fund+ (see EUROPE 13090/6) and to urge the EU Council to adopt its recommendations under the Rule of law conditionality mechanism.
“No more EU funds can be given [to Orbán’s government] until the Rule of law is restored”, summarised Stéphane Séjourné (Renew Europe, French).
At the beginning of April, the Commission, Parliament and 16 Member States brought an action before the EU Court of Justice against Hungary’s so-called ‘anti-LGBT propaganda’ law (see EUROPE 13158/14).
See the letter from Parliament’s political groups: https://aeur.eu/f/6ig (Original version in French by Hélène Seynaeve)