The European Commission has initiated legal action against Hungary at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in Luxembourg, asserting that Hungary’s Sovereignty Protection Act violates European Union (EU) law.
This announcement was made in a statement from the Commission, which detailed its decision to refer Hungary to the court based on perceived infringements of EU regulations by its national law.
The Commission had previously sent two formal notifications to Hungary in February and May 2024, expressing concerns about the law.
In response, Hungary defended the legislation, stating that it does not violate EU law and dismissing the Commission’s concerns as unfounded.
According to the Commission’s statement, after a thorough assessment of Hungary’s response, the majority of the identified complaints remain unaddressed.
These complaints concern various fundamental rights as stipulated in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, including the right to respect for private and family life, freedom of expression and information, freedom of assembly, the right to legal professional privilege, and the presumption of innocence.
The Commission further explained that the law infringes upon several fundamental freedoms related to the internal market, e-commerce directives, services directives, and EU data protection regulations.
Additionally, the Hungarian Parliament passed a new law in December last year, making foreign funding of political parties a criminal offense punishable by up to three years in prison.
A new governmental administration will oversee compliance with this ban and gather information on potential violators.
Two and a half years after the start of Russia’s war against Ukraine, Hungary continues to pursue a unique path. Prime Minister Viktor Orban has met with Russian President Vladimir Putin twice in a year, continues to receive Russian gas, and has delayed several EU sanctions packages against Russia.
