Seventeen EU countries call on Hungary to revise law banning pride marches amid €18bn funding freeze

The European Union, through 17 countries including France, Sweden and the Netherlands, has called on Hungary to review the law banning pride marches, stressing that respect for the fundamental rights of LGBTQI+ people is essential. The law, passed under the leadership of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, allows the use of facial recognition software to identify participants at these events. The EU has already frozen €18 billion in funding for Hungary over human rights concerns. Hungarian pride organizations are still planning to hold the march on 28 June, which will be attended by MEPs.