We explain Bulgaria's 2024 anti-LGBTIQ+, its consequences and EU law breaches. We also take a look at the (very deteriorated) situation of LGBTIQ+ rights in Bulgaria, which proves that Commission's action is long overdue.

Te explicamos la ley anti-LGBTIQ+ de Bulgaria de agosto de 2024, sus consecuencias y cómo vulnera la legislación de la UE. También echamos un vistazo a la (muy deteriorada) situación de los derechos LGBTIQ+ en Bulgaria, lo que demuestra que la Comisión debe actuar inmediatamente.

If the European Commission wants to protect Budapest Pride 2025, it needs to request the EU Court of Justice to suspend the Pride Ban Law. It can do so through two different paths: either in the ongoing case against the "anti-LGBT propaganda" law or in a new case against the Pride Ban Law. We explain the time limitations each of the option has. The conclusion: action is urgent.

Hungary has banned Pride marches and will use facial recognition to prosecute participants and organisers. Making matters worse, it has cemented the ban in its constitution. This frontal attack against the democratic rights of minorities constitutes also a violation of EU law, making Commission's action possible, and urgent.

In this short explainer we delve into the deadlines that the Commission needs to meet in order for its actions to be able to effectively protect Budapest Pride 2025. Even though Pride will take place on June 28, if the Pride Ban Law is not suspended by May 27, Pride will not be able to march.

Hungría ha prohibido las marchas del Orgullo y utilizará el reconocimiento facial para enjuiciar a participantes y organizadores. Este ataque frontal contra los derechos democráticos de las minorías constituye también una violación de la legislación de la UE, por lo que la Comisión debe actuar de forma urgente.

RECLAIM and 23 NGOs demand urgent action from the European Commission to ensure Pride organisers and people marching on 28 June 2025 in Budapest will be safe and able to enjoy their rights to peacefully assemble and to protest.

Infringement procedures are lengthy because they involve many different stages and decision-makers. We break down what happens when and who decides what at each step of these complex processes. We include short recommendations on how to speed things up to safeguard fundamental rights.

In this one-pager we have listed the problems that we identified in our analysis of the Commission's fundamental rights and values litigation practice, and sketched solutions for each of them. You can read more about them in our dedicated policy paper.

We analysed four internal European Commission guidelines related to infringement proceedings. We found out they fall short of protecting fundamental rights and Art. 2 TEU values like democracy, non-discrimination, and the rule of law. To solve this, we offer detailed recommendations for amending the guidelines - coinciding with the revision already planned by the Commission.

Brussels, 28/02/25 – Fourteen EU Member States, Norway and the European
Parliament have formally intervened in the European Commission’s lawsuit against
Hungary’s anti-NGO law, marking the largest legal mobilization against shrinking
democratic space in EU history.

(Brussels, 14.02.2024) RECLAIM, together with 15 other NGOs, sent a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron and French Minister for Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot, calling France to join the court case against Hungary’s “Sovereignty Protection Law”.

France and the rest of the Member States need to take immediate action to protect NGOs and independent journalists in Hungary and the EU.

On 12 December 2023, Hungary passed Act LXXXVIII of 2023 on the Protection of National Sovereignty, which created a so-called Sovereignty Protection Office (SPO). In effect, the SPO can be used to humiliate and discredit anyone whose opinions the government opposes. The government is already investigating Péter Magyar, who is Prime Minister Orbán's main rival, and NGOs face even more pressure. Download our factsheet to get all the information you need in less than 5 minutes.

The 2024 RECLAIM Annual Report looks back into a defining year for us. With the launch of our Legal Helpdesk, we boosted our ability to help local NGOs resist authoritarianism. Our main priorities included pushing back against Hungary's turbocharged foreign agents law and Bulgaria's anti-LGBTIQ+law. We also brought the Commission to Court over its backroom deals with Orbán, and studied how to improve rule of law tools for the new institutional cycle.

The politicisation of EU law enforcement by the European Commission undermines fundamental rights. RECLAIM has requested the Commission to disclose its internal guidelines on the handling of EU Pilot and formal infringement proceedings to provide greater transparency into the process.

En esta ficha informativa sobre la ley húngara contra la propaganda LGBTIQ+, incluimos las últimas actualizaciones sobre su aplicación y exploramos las repercusiones que este caso judicial puede tener para los derechos de las personas LGBTIQ+ y de los niños en Europa.

In this third factsheet on Hungary's anti-LGBTIQ+ propaganda law, we include the latest updates on its implementation and we explore the ripple effects that this court case can have for LGBTIQ+ and children's rights in Europe.

This one-pager provides journalists with essential resources for in-depth, real-time coverage of Case C-679/22, Commission v Hungary (Anti-Gay Propaganda Law). It includes information on how to get accredited, the hearing’s recording rules, and remote attendance options. Follow RECLAIM’s live updates and register in our forms to receive a post-hearing press kit with expert analysis and quotes.

With the spread of anti-LGBTIQ initiatives across Europe, transparency is essential to ensure that EU funds are not misused for projects that violate fundamental rights. This document provides information on how the European Commission assesses Member States' compliance with CFREU in the management of funds under the Common Provisions Regulation. The document was disclosed following an access to documents request by a European citizen.

This legal opinion analyses how the law breaches EU internal market freedoms, two directives on non-discrimination in employment and occupation as well as several fundamental rights - and why it should be challenged without delay before the CJEU. The law's breaches of EU law could result in aprox. EUR 650million fund freezing to the country.

Our legal opinion exposes substantial breaches of EU law, including GDPR violations, impediments to the free movement of goods, services, capitals, and workers, and infringements of EU Charter of fundamental rights. It argues Articles 2 and 10 TEU have also been violated. Recommendations include accelerating the infringement procedure, requesting interim measures and maintain the fund freezing against Hungary. Explore our full analysis and recommendations.

RECLAIM has requested the European Commission to release the documents related to the disbursement of EUR 10 billion to Hungary under the Common Provisions Regulation. According to the Commission, Hungary had met the requirements of "independence of the judiciary" needed to access such funds, but civil society organisations and the European Parliament question such decision.

RECLAIM’s Helpdesk is dedicated to supporting local human rights defenders work ethically and responsibly. If our joint advocacy leads to backlash from governments or anti-rights actors, RECLAIM has a "solidarity safety belt" to minimize risks. Should retaliation occur, here’s what you can expect:

RECLAIM has co-signed a letter addressed at European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Vice-President Věra Jourová standing in solidarity with Transparency International Hungary and Átlátszó. Both organisations have been subject to an investigation by the Sovereignty Protection Office.

This document suggests a course of action to contest the activities of the Hungarian Sovereignty Protection Office.
Section 1 explains why the Office’s activities can be challenged before a national court. Section 2 outlines the recommended formulation of preliminary reference questions to be submitted to the Court of Justice of the EU.

This is an unofficial English machine translation proofread by a Hungarian native speaker of the report published 6th May 2024 by the Committee on European Affairs of the Hungarian National Assembly on its investigative activities aimed at “exposing the political actions of the left against Hungarian interests in Brussels”.

This document contains details about the ongoing legal action taken by the European Parliament against the European Commission after the controversial release of about €10 billion that was previously blocked due to rule of law concerns in Hungary. We explore the legal framework, provide an overview of the potential legal arguments by the EP and offer recommendations for Member States' action.

This is an unofficial English translation prepared by RECLAIM of the report published 22nd May 2024 by the Sovereignty Protection Office under the title: Report on the investigation of footage
published on social platform X.

Our legal opinion exposes substantial breaches of EU law, including GDPR violations, impediments to the free movement of goods, services, capitals, and workers, and infringements of fundamental EU Charter rights. It argues Articles 2 and 10 of the TEU have also been violated. Recommendations include accelerating the infringement procedure and requesting interim measures against Hungary.

In this letter, RECLAIM and five other international civil rights groups dedicated to upholding democracy respectfully request that the Commission expedites the infringement procedure and request interim measures to ensure the integrity of the 2024 European Parliament elections. Download it below