Latest news with #BudapestPride
Euronews
2 days ago
- Politics
- Euronews
EU Commissioner Roswall expresses solidarity with LGBTQ+ community
EU Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resilience, Jessika Roswall, says "anyone who wants to join in solidarity with the LGBTQ community in Hungary should do so." She was responding to the Hungarian government's decision to ban Gay Pride parades, a decision that has been heavily condemned by a majority of EU member states including France, Germany and Spain. "The European Union is built on values, which, of course, we all stand behind, and this is the pressure we are in this union of – one of the key things is built of this precious value of people's freedom and loving whoever they want to, or rule of law and all these things. So I stand, of course, behind that and I myself have been to many prides, only in Stockholm though," she told Euronews. Meanwhile, a Commission source told Euronews that it's unlikely EU Commissioners will stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community as it could be seen to "provoke" Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and open the door to him accusing the EU of interfering in Hungarian affairs. "I think it would play into Orbán's hands were senior people from Brussels to turn up," the source said. However, law experts and some member states argue the European Commission is obliged to protect the rights and freedoms of EU citizens under Article 2 of the EU Treaty. A collaboration of 17 member states led by the Netherlands signed a declaration condemning the Hungarian decision. We are "concerned by the implications of these measures on freedom of expression, the right to peaceful assembly, and the right to privacy," part of their statement read. The EU Commissioner of Justice and Rule of Law, Michael Mcgrath, has called freedom of assembly a fundamental right that must be protected. He insisted that Pride parades do not constitute a threat to children, as the Hungarian parliament argued. Meanwhile, Roswall says she does not want to make decisions for others but says that the issue is at the centre of her beliefs and the European Union. "I don't tell people what to do, but that's what I truly believe in, and that is also the core of the European Union." The Budapest Pride parade is set to take place on 28 June in defiance of the new law, and while several MEPs have indicated their intention to attend, no Commissioners have.
The Star
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Human rights groups challenge Hungary's anti-Pride law in court
FILE PHOTO: People attend the Budapest Pride march in Budapest, Hungary, July 23, 2022. REUTERS/Marton Monus/File Photo/File Photo BUDAPEST (Reuters) -Five human rights groups including Amnesty International challenged in court Hungary's legislation that created a legal basis for police to ban Pride marches by the LGBTQ community, the groups said in a statement on Friday. Hungary's parliament, where the ruling Fidesz party has a big majority, passed legislation in March that creates a legal basis to ban LGBTQ marches and lets police use facial recognition cameras to identify people who attend. It also approved constitutional changes in April stipulating that Hungary recognises only two sexes, male and female. Activists say the measures amount to a de-facto ban on Pride marches. Prime Minister Viktor Orban - whose ruling party has a Christian conservative agenda - has said organisers "should not even bother" organising Pride in Budapest this year. Orban, who has been in power since 2010, faces elections in 2026 where a new opposition party is mounting a serious challenge to his rule. Five groups including Amnesty and leading LGBTQ rights groups Hatter Tarsasag and the group that organises Pride, said in their statement that the march planned for June 28 will go ahead in Budapest irrespective of the court ruling, which is expected next week. "Organisers are preparing for the biggest Pride march Hungary has ever had," their statement said. Government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The groups launched the legal challenge on Thursday after police banned a smaller march planned for June 1. They said when police banned the event, it cited the new legislation, which says assemblies that are considered harmful to children cannot be held, and that protecting children would supersede the right to assemble. "Police did not provide evidence on why the (June 1) march or the Pride march that is considered similar could amount to a violation of children's rights," the statement said. On Tuesday, seventeen European Union countries accused Hungary of contravening fundamental EU values by passing laws that target LGBTQ+ people, as tensions deepen between Budapest and a majority of member states. (Reporting by Krisztina Than; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Dozens of European politicians vow to attend Budapest Pride despite ban on LGBTQ gatherings in Hungary
At least 70 members of the European Parliament are planning on attending this year's Pride celebrations in Budapest, Hungary, despite the nation's ban against LGBTQ gatherings, officials have told CNN. Earlier this year, Hungarian lawmakers passed new legislation which outlaws Pride events in the country and allows authorities to use facial recognition technology to identify those attending any events that go ahead despite the ban. But officials from at least six groups of the European Parliament are planning on attending Budapest's annual Pride march anyway, according to a spokesperson for Kim van Sparrentak, the co-president of the European Union's Intergroup. The Intergroup describes itself as an 'informal forum for Members of the European Parliament (MEPS) who wish to advance and protect the fundamental rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people.' Budapest Pride has remained determined in the face of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his government, which has previously said it is outlawing the parade and other LGBTQ gatherings in the country due to 'child protection' issues. Organizers have vowed to hold the event anyway, and have called on 'international allies, activists, and friends' to join the Pride parade though Hungary's capital on June 28. Van Sparrentak, who is a Dutch MEP from the parliament's 'Greens/European Free Alliance' political group, told CNN that she will be attending Budapest Pride to 'support the LGBTIQ+ community in Hungary, to let them know that they are not alone (and) to be visible as a community.' 'Pride is a protest, and if Orbán can ban Budapest Pride without consequences, every pride is one election away from being banned,' she continued. Marc Angel, the other co-president of Intergroup, told CNN that he is attending Budapest Pride this year to 'show solidarity' with LGBTQ Hungarians, as well as 'all of civil society,' which he said was 'under attack' in Hungary. Angel said that he will be 'defending the right to assemble as a fundamental European right,' adding that he hopes to 'show Hungarians who believe in democracy and in Europe that they are not alone.' On Tuesday, a group of 20 countries in the European Union signed a letter urging Hungary to revise its 'anti-LGBTIQ+ legislation,' calling on the European Commission to 'expeditiously make full use of the rule of law toolbox at its disposal' if this doesn't happen. Angel suggested that some of these mechanisms could include stopping EU funding to Hungary and enacting an infringement procedure against the country for failing to implement EU law. In Tuesday's letter, the foreign ministries of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden said that they are 'deeply concerned' by Hungary's recent law changes. The use of facial recognition software to identify people attending banned events was also condemned, with the countries saying that they 'are concerned by the implications of these measures on freedom of expression, the right to peaceful assembly, and the right to privacy.' '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,' the letter read. CNN has reached out to the Hungarian government for comment.
The Star
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
17 EU countries sound alarm over Hungarian LGBTQ+ laws
FILE PHOTO: People attend the Budapest Pride march in Budapest, Hungary, July 23, 2022. REUTERS/Marton Monus/File Photo BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Seventeen European Union countries accused Hungary on Tuesday of contravening fundamental EU values by passing laws that target LGBTQ+ people, as tensions deepen between Budapest and a majority of member states. Hungary's parliament passed legislation in March that creates a legal basis to ban Pride marches there and lets police use facial recognition cameras to identify people who attend. It also approved constitutional changes in April stipulating that Hungary recognises only two sexes, male and female. "We are highly alarmed by these developments which run contrary to the fundamental values of human dignity, freedom, equality and respect for human rights," the governments of the 17 countries said in a joint statement. They called on Hungary to revise the measures and asked the European Commission to make full use of its powers if Budapest does not do so. The Commission can take legal action against member states if it believes they are violating EU law. The statement was backed by Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden. The declaration came ahead of a hearing on Tuesday in a long-running process where EU ministers examine concerns that Hungary is at risk of breaching core EU values. The process could in theory lead to Hungary being stripped of its right to vote on EU decisions. But diplomats say there is not sufficient support among the 27 EU member states to take that step. 'MORE NUANCED VIEW' Arriving at the meeting, Hungary's Minister for European Union Affairs Janos Boka said: "There is no such thing in Hungary as a Pride ban". "I hope that after these discussions my colleagues around the table will walk out with a more nuanced view on the Hungarian legislation," he said. But activists say the measures amount to a de-facto ban. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said that Pride organisers "should not even bother" this year, while his chief of staff Gergely Gulyas has said Hungary "does not have to tolerate Pride marching through downtown Budapest". Orban, who has been in power since 2010, has repeatedly clashed with the EU and its member countries over democratic standards, minority rights and foreign policy. Critics have accused Orban of undermining the rule of law, which the Hungarian government denies. His ruling Fidesz party has said the Pride march could be considered harmful to children and that protecting them would supersede the right to assemble. European Commissioner Michael McGrath, who oversees democracy, justice and rule of law issues, said on Tuesday there were serious concerns about the situation in Hungary. "Freedom of assembly is a fundamental right," he told reporters. "It is not a threat to children. It's not a threat to anyone, and it must be protected and upheld at all times, and so the Commission is examining all of its options," he said. (Reporting by Lili Bayer and Andrew Gray in Brussels and Krisztina Than and Anita Komuves in Budapest; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Gareth Jones)
Euronews
5 days ago
- Politics
- Euronews
EU countries 'losing patience' as Hungary grilled on rule of law
EU ministers meeting for a General Affairs Council in Brussels have begun a hearing on rule of law in Hungary under the framework of the EU's Article 7 process, as patience wears thin over recent legal initiatives in Budapest. Viktor Orbán's government's self-styled "spring clean" includes a draft transparency law, targeting foreign-funded media and NGOs, and the ban on the Budapest Pride, which are among key concerns that set to be raised in the hearing. Ahead of the meeting, 17 member states published a joint declaration denouncing the ban on Budapest's Pride march, claiming it violates EU law. "We are highly alarmed by these developments which run contrary to the fundamental values and human dignity, freedom, equality, and respect for human rights, as laid down in Article 2 of the Treaty of the European Union," the declaration said. The letter recalled that new Hungarian legislation allows fines to be imposed on participants and organisers of the Pride event and will also allow for the identification of participants with AI smart camera systems. "We 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," it read. The declaration was signed by Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden and Spain. The signatories also called on the European Commission to make full use of its rule of law toolbox if Hungary does not revise the law. Hungary's EU minister János Bóka rejected the criticism on arriving at the meeting. "There is no such thing in Hungary as a Pride ban. At today's hearing, I will explain to my colleagues the constitutional and legal framework. I hope that after this discussion, my colleagues at the table will walk out with a more nuanced view of the Hungarian legislation," Bóka said. The Article 7 process began in 2018 when the European Parliament called for Hungary to be sanctioned because of alleged rule of law violations, especially in the field of justice and media freedom. The Council has discussed the issue seven times subsequently, but has never taken the step of triggering the next stage in the Article 7 process, in which member states would be called on vote on sanctions. Critics also fear a draft Hungarian bill titled "Transparency of Public Life', which was tabled in the Budapest parliament on 13 May, would offer the Hungarian government sweeping powers to crack down on the press and critical voices in civil society. The European Commission has asked Hungary to withdraw the bill, saying that if adopted, "it would constitute a serious breach of EU principles and law", according to a Commission spokesperson. Sweden's EU minister voiced concerns about backsliding on the rule of law, transparency, and "a crackdown on civil society and LGBTI rights" as she entered the meeting. "We have had seven years, seven hearings, and I will be very clear today that this cannot just continue unless we see a completely new attitude from the Hungarian side today, I think its time that we consider the next steps, as this is getting pointless to continue," Sweden's EU minister, Jessica Rosencrantz, told reporters. "The first phase of the Article 7 process has now been ongoing for a relatively long time, so no one can accuse us of not being patient," German EU minister Gunther Kirchbaum told reporters, adding "at a certain point we have to make up our minds about what is next". "I can tell you that my colleagues' patience is disappearing day by day," he said. Hungary's Bóka said that political hysteria surrounded the meeting but added that Hungary was ready for dialogue. On Monday, an EU diplomat said that ministers will not call for the deployment of sanctions under Article 7 against Hungary on Tuesday because they lack the requisite majority. With an existing temporary trade agreement between the EU and Ukraine set to expire on 5 June, member states have registered discontent with the European Commission's inconclusive negotiation of a future arrangement with the war-torn state. Tensions surfaced during a closed-door session of the EU's monthly gathering of agriculture ministers in Brussels on Monday, during which member states' representatives expressed frustration with the Commission for its failure to clinch a deal with Ukraine, despite having had ample time to do so, two people familiar with the meeting told Euronews. Several ministers said they were unhappy that a stabler and permanent agreement with Ukraine was not reached, according to one of the people. Others emphasised that finding a long-term solution for trade liberalisation with Ukraine should have been a priority for the Commission, which holds exclusive competence for negotiating trade deals, another person said. Currently, trade between the EU and Ukraine is governed by Autonomous Trade Measures (ATMs), which temporarily suspend all tariffs and quotas on Ukrainian agricultural exports. These measures were introduced in response to Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. However, the ATM scheme is set to expire next week and cannot be renewed again, having already been extended once. With its expiry looming, the Commission has been working unsuccessfully since late 2024 to establish a formal replacement. 'It's no secret that talks between the Commission and Ukraine are underway. Let's say they are still at an initial stage,' Polish agriculture minister, Czesław Siekierski, who currently holds the chairmanship of the EU Agrifish Council, acknowledged during a subsequent press conference. To bridge the gap left by the stalled trade talks, the Commission has prepared transitional arrangements that will apply until a review of the EU-Ukraine Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) is completed and a revised deal is ready. These interim measures were approved last week as a precaution by EU ambassadors. Siekierski noted that the new measures, which replicate the terms of Ukraine's pre-war association agreement with the EU, are 'much less definite' than the ATM scheme regarding limits on Ukrainian agricultural imports. In the meeting, the Commission reiterated its intention to move away from temporary solutions and establish a more stable trading framework. 'Farmers and stakeholders on both sides need predictability to plan ahead,' EU agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen told ministers, according to briefing notes shared by Commission spokespersons. Hansen added that the Commission is in active contact with Ukrainian officials to swiftly reach a balanced agreement that reflects the interests of both sides. Agriculture remains the most sensitive issue. The ATM arrangement has triggered backlash in several EU countries, particularly in France and Poland, where farmers have protested against the surge in Ukrainian imports since trade barriers were lifted. On this point, the Commissioner reassured ministers that the transitional measures do not introduce new quotas or increase allowed import volumes for Ukrainian products. The meeting began with an address from Vitalii Koval, Ukraine's minister of agrarian policy and food, who urged the EU to swiftly agree on a new free trade mechanism and find a balanced solution 'based on numbers', according to an EU source. Koval reminded EU ministers that Ukraine is fighting to uphold European values and highlighted the recent toll of three consecutive nights of Russian attacks, which have severely strained the country's infrastructure. In his presentation, Koval underlined how critical the agricultural sector is to Ukraine. The EU source noted that Ukraine's agriculture is seven times more significant to the economy of Ukraine than any EU country, with one in five Ukrainians employed in the sector. Koval also cited a 20.5% drop in available farmland due to occupation, and referenced World Bank figures showing Ukraine has suffered €83.9 billion in agricultural damages and losses due to the war. While the Commission's current position is to reduce the market access levels previously allowed under the ATMs, Ukraine hopes to retain the same degree of access to the EU market. Koval pointed out that 66% of Ukraine's imports come from the EU and argued that if Ukraine were an EU member state, it would rank ninth in terms of agricultural exports within the bloc. He also said he has been holding talks with EU farmers' associations to address concerns about the high volume of Ukrainian imports, as part of Ukraine's push to secure a future agreement with the Commission.
