The so-called sovereignty law violates European law, the Commission said on Thursday.
Brussels sees the newly created Hungarian government agency to monitor state “sovereignty” as a means of restricting freedom of expression and other fundamental European rights in Hungary.
Proceedings initiated
The Commission had already initiated proceedings against Hungary in February. According to the Commission, the “Law to Protect Sovereignty” and the authority set up at the end of January restrict, among other things, “the right to the protection of personal data, freedom of expression and information, freedom of association and the right to vote of EU citizens,” it said then in Brussels.
The authority, which is enshrined in the Hungarian constitution, is tasked with “identifying and investigating organizations that receive funding from abroad and aim to influence the will of voters.” After the law was passed, several independent Hungarian media outlets protested in a joint statement against possible restrictions on press freedom by the new authority.