The EU's commissioner for equality took aim Tuesday at a Hungarian bill aimed at banning Budapest's annual pride march, asserting the "fundamental right" to peaceful assembly in the 27-nation bloc.
"We stand with the LGBTQI community - in Hungary & in all Member States," Hadja Lahbib posted on X. "The right to gather peacefully is a fundamental right to be championed across the European Union."
The central European country, ruled since 2010 by nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, has passed a series of laws slammed by activists at home and by the EU for curbing the rights of sexual and gender minorities.
The European Commission, 16 member states and the European Parliament have taken Budapest to court over a 2021 law banning the "promotion" of homosexuality to minors – around which the attempt to ban the pride march is based.
Billions of euros in EU funds meanwhile remain frozen over issues including LGBTQ rights, the treatment of asylum seekers, alleged corruption and the independence of academics.
Pressed by reporters regarding the latest bill, Commission spokesperson Eva Hrncirova said earlier Tuesday it was too soon for the bloc to formally respond to what was "still in the stage of proposal."
But a second spokesperson, Stefan de Keersmaecker, added: "It's extremely important as far as we're concerned to fight any discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation."
Recalling that a chunk of EU funds for Hungary were currently blocked, he said: "We are waiting for the right approach and to make sure that Hungary is in line with the obligations that exist here on this front."