The European Commission said on Thursday it was suing Hungary over a law that imposes jail terms for groups that accept foreign funds for political causes, which rights groups say is aimed at silencing critics of the government.
The EU said Thursday it was referring Hungary to the European Court of Justice over laws passed by Budapest to curb foreign influence in the country, which critics say aim to silence government opponents.
The European Commission said the legislation passed last year by Prime Minister Viktor Orban‘s nationalist government violated fundamental rights and other regulations.
“The European Commission decided to refer Hungary to the Court of Justice because it considers its national law on the ‘Defence of Sovereignty’ to be in breach of EU law,” the EU’s top executive body said.
Hungary’s laws criminalise foreign funding of election campaigns and establish a new Sovereignty Protection Office that has broad investigative powers.
The commission said the wide discretion granted to the new office disproportionately affected civil society organisations, media outlets and journalists.
The court referral comes after the commission twice wrote to Budapest, first to air its concerns and then to ask for them to be addressed – but was rebuffed.
The court can order a country to comply with EU laws and impose penalties.
(AFP)
Read more on FRANCE 24 English
Read also:
MEPs challenge Viktor Orban on ‘European values’: Hungary’s controversial EU presidency
EU holds its breath as Hungary’s Orban vows to ‘Make Europe Great Again’
EU fines Hungary €200 million for flouting asylum laws