MEPs debate on potential breaches of EU law and of the rights of LGBTIQ citizens in Hungary during the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. This debate follows the vote of the Hungarian Parliament in favour of rules that, under the guise of combatting paedophilia, restrict freedom of speech and children’s rights by banning LGBTIQ content from being featured in school educational materials or TV shows for under-18s.

LGBTIQ rights in Hungary : extracts from the debate

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Title: LGBTIQ rights in Hungary  : extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (English), An&#382;e LOGAR, Slovenian Minister for Foreign Affairs, There is no place for homophobia in European Union. No one should feel a need to conceal their true selves in order to avoid discrimination, hate or even violence. All citizens of our Union are equal and should be able to live in freedom and safe from discrimination based on their age, sex, race, colour, religion or sexual orientation. These are principles and values solidly enshrined in the EU treaties, the Charter of Fundamental Rights and EU legislation.

SOUNDBITE (English), An&#382;e LOGAR, Slovenian Minister for Foreign Affairs, In view of recent legislative developments in Hungary, it is clear that family law or schools curricula are within the national competence. Yet, the principle of non-discrimination is enshrined in the EU treaties. It was the right to equal treatment that featured prominently in the exchange that ministers had in the framework of Hungary's Article 7.1 procedure, at the General Affairs Council meeting on 22nd of June.

SOUNDBITE (English), V&#283;ra JOUROV&#193;, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Values and Transparency, Illegitimate public interest is not a valid pretext to introduce provisions that violate fundamental rights and discriminate against a minority group based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.

SOUNDBITE (English), V&#283;ra JOUROV&#193;, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Values and Transparency, The Commission will actively monitor the respect of fundamental rights, including the principle of non-discrimination in the execution of the EU budget. On the 30th of June the Commission has received the reply of Hungary to the letter concerning this new Act. We are assessing this reply and we will not hesitate to put forward actions in accordance with our role of guardian of the Treaty.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jeroen LENAERS (EPP, NL), What kind of message are we sending as a government to young people by insisting that even the mere portrayal of homosex reality in itself is already so abnormal or so dangerous that young people should be shielded from it? What message does it send to a boy or a girl who falls in love for the first time with another boy or another girl, that their feelings aren't normal, that they have something to be ashamed about, that there is something wrong with them? Of course not. The only one who has anything to be ashamed of is a parliament who sends such a message.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jeroen LENAERS (EPP, NL), The rule of law in Europe is in need of some long overdue maintenance and you member states have all the tools necessary to make the difference and it is time now to put your money where your mouth is and finally act.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Iratxe GARC&#205;A P&#201;REZ (S&amp;D, ES), LGBTI rights are human rights and acting against those rights in the European Union is illegal. This is why the new Hungarian law must be revoked, because it is an attack on human rights and it is an indecent and shameful law. These retrograde law shows the seeds of hate and violence. They allow people to discriminate according to who you love, to insult a pride march in Zagreb or to kill a 24 year old boy. Let me be clear, in this European Union, any person should have the same rights and opportunities, regardless of who they love. The European Council reacted against the Hungarian government, but reaction must now become action, through the use of the conditionality mechanism linked to the rule of law, and sanctions via Article 7.

SOUNDBITE (English), Liesje SCHREINEMACHER (Renew, NL), So let's make Mr Orb&aacute;n listen the only way he knows how. If the law is not revoked, bring Hungary to court, repeal its voting rights and stop EU funds ending up in his pockets. This Parliament is doing everything in its power to make this happen. We are doing our job and now we are urging the European Commission, but especially the Council, to finally do theirs.

SOUNDBITE (English), Terry REINTKE (Greens/EFA, DE), Between a Europe of freedom and a Europe of hatred and oppression, the choice is very clear. We choose freedom, we choose equality, we choose democracy. And we choose a European Commission that will stand up for this freedom, for the freedom of people in Hungary, for the freedom of judges in Poland, for the freedom of everyone in the European Union to love who they want to love and to be who they are.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Joachim Stanis&#322;aw BRUDZI&#323;SKI (ECR, PL), Poland and Hungary are part of Europe and we stay in Europe. No one gave the left, the right to decide who is a European and who isn't. In Poland and in Hungary, the government's have democratic legitimacy and they are allowed and permitted to protect the real values from the Old and New Testament and not from the left arsenal.

LGBTIQ rights in Hungary : extracts from the debate

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LGBTIQ rights in Hungary : extracts from the debate

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