Commission sues Hungary over sovereignty law

The European Commission has filed a lawsuit against Hungary with the European Court of Justice over a law against foreign influence. The Commission said today that Hungary's sovereignty law violates European law.

It accuses Hungary of using a newly created government agency to restrict freedom of expression and other basic rights. According to its own information, the authority requested that legal procedures be expedited.

The Hungarian Parliament approved the law at the end of last year. The new agency will work to “identify and investigate organizations that receive funding from abroad and aim to influence the will of voters.” The Hungarian government, headed by right-wing populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, accuses the European Union and American organizations of distributing “billions of euros” to the opposition.

The proceedings began in February

The Commission had already begun proceedings against Hungary in February. According to the committee, the “Law for the Protection of Sovereignty” and the authority created at the end of January restrict, among other things, “the right to protection of personal data, freedom of expression and information, freedom of association, and the right to vote of citizens.” European Union.

After the law was passed, several independent Hungarian media outlets protested in a joint statement against possible restrictions on press freedom by the new authority.