Europeans citizens cannot stand by while Hungary, one of its Member States, systematically violates the democratic principles on which the Union is founded. What’s happening in Hungary affects every European citizen, and should not be left only to Governmental and diplomatic action, which is proving ineffective.
Since 2018, Hungary has repeatedly breached EU values by undermining judicial independence, attacking media freedom and civil society, and targeting minorities. Most recently, the government banned Budapest Pride, citing child protection, and passed laws denying legal recognition to transgender people by defining gender as binary and fixed at birth.
These are not isolated incidents but part of a deliberate authoritarian shift, put in place by Orban’s government. If the EU fails to act, it legitimizes these violations and sets a dangerous precedent for all member states.
That’s why, as Eumans and No Peace Without Justice, we believe the people of Europe must respond. On 28 June in Budapest, just hours before the cancelled Pride March, we will hold a People’s Assembly to stand for democracy and propose action. Soon more details on the locale
At the core of our assembly lies the demand to suspend Hungary’s voting rights in the EU Council until the rule of law and democratic freedoms are fully restored, as provided for by Article 7 of the EU treaties.
Furthermore, we encourage the EU institutions to introduce the legal status of a “European association” to allow NGOs to register at the EU level, overcoming national barriers to the fundamental human right to freedom if association and freedom of expression, such as, for instance, those in the “Transparency in Public Life” bill proposed by the Hungarian government. This bill, if approved, would limit foreign funding for media outlets and civil society organisations, and grant the government powers to monitor, restrict, penalise, and ban anything or anybody it is considered a threat to the country’s sovereignty. The legal status of a European association would allow Hungarian organisations to continue their work without arbitrary prohibitions or hurdles.
SIGN THE INITIATIVE TO SUSPEND HUNGARY’S VOTING RIGHTS IN THE EU COUNCIL AND INTRODUCE THE LEGAL STATUS OF “EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION”, IN A WAY TO PROTECT NGOs FROM LEGAL RESTRICTIONS — BY SIGNING, YOU WILL JOIN THE GROWING COMMUNITY STANDING UP FOR DEMOCRACY, FREEDOM AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN EUROPE. WE’LL KEEP YOU UPDATED AND INVITE YOU TO TAKE PART IN THE NEXT CAMPAIGN ACTIONS, INCLUDING THE UPCOMING EVENT IN BUDAPEST.
Leave your details to join those who have already signed our initiative calling for the suspension of Hungary’s voting rights in the EU Council. We’ll keep you informed and invite you to take part in future campaign actions, including the event in Budapest.