### EU Countries Urge Action Against Hungary Over Pride Ban

A coalition of European Union countries is pushing the European Commission to take firm action against Hungary following Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's proposal to ban upcoming Pride celebrations in Budapest. The call comes amid increasing frustration with Hungary’s stance on various issues, including its obstruction of EU aid to Ukraine.

In a joint statement coordinated by the Dutch foreign ministry, sixteen EU countries have expressed alarm over Hungary's recent legislative moves that threaten fines for organizers and participants of LGBTQ+ events. This coalition includes Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, and Sweden, with France and Germany also lending their support.

The statement urges Brussels to use all available legal mechanisms to pressure Budapest to reverse its decision, arguing that the Hungarian laws conflict with the core values of human dignity, freedom, equality, and respect for human rights as laid out in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union. The statement, however, does not specify the exact measures the Commission should implement but hints at the possibility of "interim measures" that act as legal injunctions to prevent harm—in this case, by ensuring the Pride celebrations are allowed to take place.

Despite these calls, the European Commission, which is already withholding €18 billion in funds from Hungary over rule-of-law concerns, has yet to commit to further actions. Some EU officials have suggested using the so-called "nuclear option," which involves stripping Hungary of its voting rights within the European Council through Article 7 proceedings. This process requires a four-fifths majority to pass the initial vote that Hungary has violated the EU treaty and subsequently needs unanimous support from all member states except Hungary.

The growing discontent over Hungary's policies toward LGBTQ+ rights and its stance on EU aid to Ukraine has heightened tensions within the bloc. Swedish Europe Minister Jessica Rosencrantz emphasized the urgency of taking decisive steps if Hungary does not alter its current approach, pointing out the declining patience among EU members.

The pressures are mounting on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to act decisively, especially with major EU players like France and Germany signaling their readiness to support stronger measures against Hungary.