The European Commission has called on the Hungarian government to withdraw a draft law titled “On the Transparency of Public Life,” which aims to restrict foreign funding of non-governmental organizations and media outlets, reports the Baltimore Chronicle, citing Euronews.
Submitted to the Hungarian Parliament on May 13, 2025, the bill would allow authorities to list NGOs and media funded from abroad in a special registry if they are deemed to threaten national sovereignty. The legislation foresees strict penalties and potential asset freezes for continued foreign financing.
A spokesperson for the European Commission stated that adopting such a bill in its current form would constitute a serious violation of EU laws and values. The Commission has therefore requested that the bill be removed from the legislative process entirely.
It is worth noting that in 2024, the European Commission referred Hungary to the Court of Justice of the European Union over the creation of the Sovereignty Protection Office and its investigatory powers, which the Commission believes infringe on EU law.
Earlier we wrote that Hungary and Slovakia sustain reliance on Russian energy despite viable alternatives.