Speaking in Budapest on the eve of Pride due to take place on Saturday 28 June, the European Commissioner for Equality, Hadja Lahbib, addressed the International Human Rights Conference to express the European Union’s commitment to the rights of LGBTQI+ people.
“The eyes of Europe are on Budapest this weekend. You’re in the spotlight. And your city shines in all its diversity”, she declared in her opening speech.
Last March, the Hungarian Parliament passed a law against organising and taking part in the ‘Pride March’ (see EUROPE 13668/27).
Hadja Lahbib pointed to the increasing number of violations of fundamental rights in Hungary.
“The EU is not neutral in the face of hatred. We cannot remain passive. We cannot tolerate the intolerable”, she added.
Going on to say: “Today, it’s the LGBTQI+ community. But tomorrow, it could be anyone, for any reason, on any pretext. History shows us that there is always a ‘good’ reason to discriminate”.
However, claiming to be in Budapest “as a friend”, Hadja Lahbib added: “I am here in Hungary, as I would be in any other Member State, to defend the values of freedom, equality and human dignity. (...) There’s no going back. We are moving forward, preparing a new strategy for LGBTQI+ equality”. More than €1.5 billion will be mobilised to promote the values of the European Union.
Also in Budapest, at the international press conference on the Pride March, the Vice-President of the European Parliament, Nicolae Ștefănuță (Greens/EFA, Romanian), congratulated the organisers on their courage and reminded them that the fight for equality “does not stop at the border of Budapest”.
He went on to say that “the European Parliament is united in defending the freedom of assembly, dignity and equality of European citizens throughout our territory”.
Faced with growing restrictions, the two representatives called for greater support for civil society.
Several MEPs from the Renew Europe, S&D, Greens/EFA and The Left groups have announced that they will be taking part in Pride. (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)