Czech Republic seeks to join EU legal case against Hungary’s sovereignty law

The Czech Republic has officially requested to join the European Commission’s legal proceedings against Hungary over its controversial national sovereignty law, the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed to the Czech News Agency. The request was submitted to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) at the end of January, positioning Prague as an ancillary party in the case.

The European Commission (EC) launched legal action against Hungary in October 2024, arguing that the sovereignty law violates EU regulations. Hungary’s parliament approved the legislation in December, with the ruling Fidesz party claiming it is necessary to protect the country from foreign political interference. The law bans foreign financing of political parties and imposes prison sentences of up to three years for violations. It also mandates the creation of an Office for the Defense of Sovereignty, tasked with identifying and addressing foreign influence in Hungarian politics.

Critics argue that the legislation is another step in Hungary’s long-term crackdown on political opposition, accusing the government of using sovereignty concerns as a pretext to stifle dissent.

“We have indications that twelve other EU member states are seriously considering or have already completed internal procedures to join the case,” said Czech Foreign Ministry spokesman Daniel Drake.

The case marks another high-profile legal confrontation between Hungary and the European Union, as concerns grow over the country’s adherence to democratic principles and EU laws.

Source: CTK