A group of European countries including Ireland is putting pressure to reverse anti-gay laws.
The declaration has now been signed by 17 EU member states shocked by a raft of new laws and changes to Hungary’s constitution which endangers the rights of LGBTIQ+ people.
If Hungary doesn’t back down, the group of states including Ireland, Germany and Sweden, urge the European Commission to take action.
“We are deeply concerned by recent legislative and constitutional amendments infringing on the fundamental rights of LGBTIQ+ persons which were adopted by the Hungarian Parliament on 18 March and 14 April 2025 following other anti-LGBTIQ+ legislation already introduced in previous years.
Under the pretext of child protection, these legislative amendments allow fines to be imposed on participants and organisers of events, such as the annual Pride celebrations. The amendments also allow for facial recognition software to be used at such events, and for banning such events.
We are concerned by the implications of these measures on freedom of expression, the right to peaceful assembly, and the right to privacy.
We are highly alarmed by these developments which run contrary to the fundamental values of human dignity, freedom, equality and respect for human rights, as laid down in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union. Respecting and protecting the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all people, including LGBTIQ+ persons, is inherent in being part of the European family.
This is our responsibility and shared commitment of the member states and the European institutions.
We therefore call upon Hungary to revise these measures, to ensure the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all its citizens are respected and protected, thus complying with its international obligations.
We share the concern expressed by the European Commission in this regard and call on the Commission to expeditiously make full use of the rule of law toolbox at its disposal in case these measures are not revised accordingly.”
Former Irish Minister, now European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law, Michael McGrath, said he would be raising concerns about the law in a meeting with fellow Europe ministers this afternoon.
McGrath says he has already instructed Hungary to withdraw one of its draft laws which he says is in breach of EU law and fundamental rights.
Michael McGrath said they have a number of options if Hungary doesn’t comply until the possibility of taking Hungary to the European Court of Justice.
He said the EU was already taking infringement proceedings against Hungary for its so-called Child Protection law which effectively bans LGBTI discussions in schools and on TV.
“The fundamental rights of citizens of Hungary and throughout the European Union should be respected. The right to gather freely and peacefully [for example for Pride events] is one that must be upheld at all time”, he said.
In reaction to the declaration by 17 countries including Ireland, Hungary’s Europe Minister, János Bóka said this morning that “there is no such thing in Hungary as a Pride ban”.
He said that he would put EU colleagues right in the discussion amongst ministers later.
“I hope that after these discussions, my colleagues around the table will walk out with a more nuanced view on the Hungarian legislation”.
The declaration has been signed by Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.