Press release: The European Parliament joins the Court case against Hungary after vote in the Committee on Legal Affairs
Brussels, 21 March 2023
On 21 March, the Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI) voted in favour of the European Parliament joining the Commission’s infringement procedure against Hungary’s so-called ‘child protection law’. The vote was carried with a resounding majority of 18 votes in favour and 2 against and is a landmark decision to submit a written observation. The Parliament now has the opportunity to defend the EU’s internal market and e-commerce rules, as well as the Union’s values as enshrined in Article 2 TEU in the upcoming Court case.
The Hungarian National Assembly adopted the ‘anti-LGBTIQ’ law in June 2021[1], which led the European Commission to initiate its infringement procedure. The European Court of Justice published the Court case on 19 of December 2022.
Pierre Karleskind MEP (Renew Europe), Vice-President of the LGBTI Intergroup and Member in the Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI) who initiated the proposal comments:
The positive vote result in JURI to join the Court case against Hungary is a landmark decision. Not only does it show our institution’s unwavering support for the values on which the European Union is founded, but is also a clear message to national leaders: if you attack the values, you will find the European Parliament in your path.
Kim van Sparrentak MEP (Greens-EFA), Co-Chair of the LGBTI Intergroup, concludes:
The landmark decision by the JURI Committee to join the Commission’s Court case positions the European Parliament on the right side of history by defending the rights of LGBTIQ people as fundamental human rights. This is a unique opportunity to also uphold the Union’s values as outlined in Article 2 TEU with the clear message that the European Parliament believes in a Union where there is no place for LGBTIQ-phobia.
[1] Background information:
On 15 June 2021, the Hungarian National Assembly adopted Act LXXIX of 2021 on taking more severe actions against paedophile offenders and amending certain Acts for the protection of children.
On 22 June 2021, Belgium initiated a declaration signed by 18 Member States calling on the European Commission to lever legal action.
On 22 June 2021, the LGBTI Intergroup initiated an Oral Question that resulted in a Parliament debate and resolution on the matter.
On 15 July 2021, the Commission announced it would initiate an infringement procedure to refer Hungary to the European Court of Justice
On 19 December 2022, the CJEU published the Court case.
On 14 March, a public petition calling on each Member State’s government to join the case as a third party was ongoing. On the same day, the EP LGBTI Intergroup initiated a photo action in Strasbourg urging Member States to join.
To this date, 5 Member States have officially joined the case (Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Austria)
Press contacts:
Office of Pierre Karleskind MEP – Victor Belaud (Victor.Belaud@europarl.europa.eu)
Office of Kim van Sparrentak MEP – Lowie Kok (Lowie.Kok@europarl.europa.eu)
