More than 320 civil society organisations, coordinated by the Civil Liberties Union For Europe (Liberties), have called on the European Commission to take urgent action against a new Hungarian bill that threatens the existence of independent media, civil society organisations, and the rule of law.
In a letter sent on Thursday, the signatories urge President von der Leyen to initiate interim measures through the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) to block the implementation of the so-called “Transparency of Public Life” bill, which was submitted to the Hungarian Parliament on 13 May 2025 and later publicly endorsed by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. “If adopted, the bill would provide the Hungarian government with the final tools to effectively silence the country’s remaining independent voices ahead of the 2026 parliamentary elections,” the letter states.
The organisations argue that the bill is in clear violation of EU law, including the free movement of capital, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the right to freedom of expression, association and the right to protection of private life protected under the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, the European Convention on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The letter specifically calls on President von der Leyen and Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law, and Consumer Protection McGrath to:
- immediately request the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) to grant interim measures in the ongoing infringement procedure on the Law on the Defence of National Sovereignty (Case C-829/24),
- publicly urge the Hungarian government to withdraw the bill,
- open a new infringement procedure, in case Hungary refuses the requests.
Balazs Denes, Executive Director at the Civil Liberties Union for Europe said:
“If adopted, this law would all but erase what remains of democratic space in Hungary, silencing dissent in the lead-up to the 2026 national elections. It risks triggering an unprecedented domino effect across the EU, emboldening other authoritarian-leaning governments and would-be Orbáns. The good news is the European Commission holds a powerful instrument: requesting interim measures from the Court of Justice of the EU. President von der Leyen must act without delay — it’s not too late yet.”
The Civil Liberties Union for Europe (Liberties) is a Berlin-based civil liberties group with 22 member organisations across the EU campaigning on human and digital rights issues including the rule of law, media freedom, SLAPPs, electoral integrity, targeted political advertising, AI, and mass surveillance.
