The EU Commission has launched infringement procedures against Hungary and Poland on equality and the protection of fundamental rights, in particular for LGBTQ communities. The two Member States now have two months to reply to the arguments put forward by the Commission. If not, the Commission may decide to send them a reasoned opinion and at a later stage refer them to the Court of Justice of the European Union.
On Hungary, cases include the recently adopted law banning access to content that promotes or portrays so-called ‘gender identity divergence at birth, sex change or homosexuality’ for minors of 18 years.
In relation to Poland, the Commission considers that the Polish authorities have not fully responded to its inquiry into the nature and impact of the so-called ‘LGBT-free zones’ resolutions adopted by several Polish regions and municipalities.