During June 2021, Hungary passed a controversial law that prohibits educating minors about homosexuality and restricts advertising and media portrayal of homosexuality and gender reassignment for people under 18. This legislation has drawn criticism from the European Commission for violating several Union rules, including rules for protecting fundamental rights and the internal market. The European Commission has taken Hungary to the EU Court of Justice after the law faced significant criticism, and Belgium, Denmark, and the Netherlands have also supported the intervention. Recently, Sweden has announced its support for the process, a decision that is welcomed by the Liberal’s MEP Karin Karlsbro, who hopes Sweden’s position can convince other countries to follow suit.
In June 2021, the parliament in Hungary voted through the controversial law against pedophilia, which, among other things, prohibits teaching minors about homosexuality. The law also strikes against advertising and other mass media products that show “deviations from someone’s biological sex and gender reassignment and propagate or portray homosexuality” for people under 18.
According to the European Commission the legislation violates several of the Union’s rules, including rules for the internal market and protection for the fundamental rights of individuals. Last summer, the decision was made that the Commission would take Hungary before the EU Court of Justice, since the criticism of the law did not lead to any measures.
In the past, Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands have supported the intervention against Hungary. The announcement that Sweden is also joining the process is welcomed by the Liberals’ MEP Karin Karlsbro.
“A very welcome decision with broad support among EU member states and in parliament. I hope that Sweden’s position, especially as a country in the chair, can be a nudge for more countries to follow,” says Karlsbro in a press release.