RECLAIM is hiring an EU Legal Advisor (full-time, Brussels) to defend the rule of law and + LGBTQI rights. 📆 Apply by 22 August — but don’t wait, we may hire earlier! 🔗 Job description and how to apply: lnkd.in/euBJTpj6

𝟮𝟬 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝘂𝗱𝗮𝗽𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗚𝗕𝗧𝗜𝗤+ 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 🌈 An overwhelming majority of 20 Member States showed their solidarity with Hungarian democracy and the rights of LGBTIQ+ people. www.government.nl/documents/di... 🧵(1/3)

🔴JOINT LETTER from 24 LGBTIQ+ and Human rights NGOs: Urgent call on Commission to take immediate action on Hungarian Pride Ban The Commission alone has the power to act in time. Without intervention, the risk of irreparable harm, including imprisonment and organisational dissolution, is imminent.

🔴 BREAKING: Hungary constitutionalizes blatant discrimination against LGBTI+ persons. Among other things: • Declares “a person is either a man or a woman" • Legitimizes the Pride ban (and ban on LGBTI+ events) • Strips citizenship from critics The EU must act. #LGBTIQ #Hungary #HumanRights #EU

🔴PRIDE BANNED. Fascism Returns. Democracy Burning in Hungary. It happened yesterday. A rushed bill (48h to pass). In the guise of 'child protection' from LGBTQ+ content. Allows facial profiling of 'offenders' - & soon in any public space? Fines up to €500. #lgbtq+ #humanrights #eupolitics #hungary

Illegitimate laws won't stop us

Last night, Orbán’s party, Fidesz introduced a radical amendment to Hungary’s freedom of assembly law to ban Pride events, threatening participants with facial recognition surveillance and heavy fines. 🔊 Action under Article 7 is long overdue before Hungary succumbs to Orbán’s authoritarianism!

When the EU fails to act, the far-right takes note and escalates. In the past month, 2 anti-LGBTQI+ bills in Bulgaria to: 🛑Ban LGBTQI+ content in public spaces 🛑Criminalize medical professionals for gender-affirming care 🛑Codify a de-facto ban on legal gender recognition for trans persons

🇪🇺💪14 EU countries, Norway + the European Parliament are standing against Orbán's Russia-style foreign agents law. Huge thanks to @reclaim-eu.bsky.social's Esther Martinez for leading the campaign & to all showing solidarity with 🇭🇺 civil society and journalists. 🔗Source: vsquare.org/orbans-secre...

The Heritage Foundation is now planning to destroy the EU - with the help of Polish and Hungarian partners vsquare.org/heritage-fou...

Today, RECLAIM attended the Launch of the 2024 Europe Press Freedom Report, from the Safety of Journalists Platform. Threats to independent media follow a clear pattern—intimidation, disinformation, legal harassment, and violence—all warning signs of democratic decline. The time to act is now!

We did it! We built the largest lawsuit to defend civic space in EU history! 15 countries + the European Parliament have joined the case against Hungary’s foreign agents law targeting dissident voices. A major step for democracy, but the fight is not over. Oral hearings are next. Stay tuned.

So far, 14 EU Member States have joined the lawsuit—Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, Ireland, Spain, and Portugal—along with Norway and the European Parliament. The deadline is in 4 hours.

Lithuania joins the lawsuit against Orbán’s foreign agents law! The country has made it clear: European leaders who flirt with Moscow have no place in the EU. By joining the case Lithuania stands alongside its Baltic neighbour, Estonia in defending European values. Well done, Lithuania!

Germany joins the case against Orbán’s Foreign Agents Law! Despite turbulent times at home, Germany’s responsibility to Europe remains unchanged. A late joiner, but not absent. When the rule of law and European values are at stake, Germany takes a stand. 👏

The deadline to join the SPO lawsuit is in two days, and we have not yet heard from France and Spain.

While I certainly applaud EU Commission’s decision to lodge infringement action before CJEU, it beggars belief no application for interim measures has been filed to date. Meanwhile those defending EU’s values and fighting against industrial scale misappropriation of EU funds are viciously targeted

Government repression of activists working with international institutions was once just a UN concern—something only authoritarian states did. Now, it’s taking root in the EU. In Hungary, anti-corruption NGOs can’t work with the EU without being branded traitors. Belgium won’t stand for this:

Finland, one of the world’s freest places for journalists, won’t stay silent won’t stay silent as Orbán’s Sovereignty Protection Office targets journalists. Democracy survives only when journalists can report freely. Thank you, Finland, for joining the lawsuit.

Just months ago, Poland was battling democratic backsliding. Today, it’s leading Europe’s charge against autocracy. Meanwhile, France—Europe's self-proclaimed guardian of human rights—stays conspicuously silent Our thoughts for The French Dispatch: https://lnkd.in/enK-bhxM

Poland joins the Commission’s lawsuit against Orbán’s Foreign Agents Law—showing that the real threat to democracy isn’t Brussels, as Orbán claims, but those who erode it from within and serve Putin’s agenda. 𝗗𝘇𝗶𝗲̨𝗸𝘂𝗷𝗲𝗺𝘆, 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝘀𝗸𝗮! 💓

𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗢𝗿𝗯á𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗟𝗮𝘄 Foreign agent laws silence civil society & pull countries into Kremlin’s grip. EU can't be passive as Orbán fuels Putin’s agenda Democracy must also be defended in court Estonia chose a side: others must follow Thank you Min @tsahkna.bsky.social!

𝗦𝘄𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻 In 2018, #Sweden stood alone with the Commission against Orbán’s first foreign agents law. Today, litigation against anti-NGO crackdowns is no longer taboo. We owe a profound debt to Sweden for consistently championing democracy and the judicial protection of rights.

The Dutch Parliament—government and opposition parties together—just voted to 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 the government to join the Commission’s lawsuit against Orbán's last foreign agents law. It shouldn't have taken a vote, but here we are. Now, we wait for the government to 𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 file.

Norway has become the first non-EU country to back the Commission's lawsuit against Orbán's Foreign Agent law. With USAID stepping back and EU CERV under pressure, ensuring the EEA Civil Society Fund can continue to disburse grants has never been more critical. Well, done, Norway!

🚨 L'Etat de droit et la société civile sont en danger en #Hongrie ! 📝 Lettre de 17 ONG à Emmanuel Macron et Jean-Noël Barrot pour appeler la France à se joindre à la procédure judiciaire contre la « loi de protection de la souveraineté » en #Hongrie. www.reclaiming.eu/joint-letter...

RECLAIM and Transparency International EU, together with 15 other NGOs, sent a letter to French President Macron and French Minister for Foreign Affairs Barrot, calling France to join the court case against Hungary’s “Sovereignty Protection Law”. ​ Read our statement here: bit.ly/4b1zMpS

PM Orbán has just declared his intention to ban Hungary's pro-democracy NGOs. EU Member States need to respond decisively by backing the Commission’s lawsuit against Orbán’s foreign agents’ law. Deadline to join - 𝐸𝑈 𝑣𝑠. 𝑂𝑟𝑏𝑎́𝑛’𝑠 𝐻𝑢𝑛𝑔𝑎𝑟𝑦- is Feb. 27. Protect Democracy. Join Now. reclaiming.eu/spo

This kind of thing started happening in Russia around 2012.

PM Orbán has just declared his intention to ban Hungary's pro-democracy NGOs. EU Member States need to respond decisively by backing the Commission’s lawsuit against Orbán’s foreign agents’ law. Deadline to join - 𝐸𝑈 𝑣𝑠. 𝑂𝑟𝑏𝑎́𝑛’𝑠 𝐻𝑢𝑛𝑔𝑎𝑟𝑦- is Feb. 27. Protect Democracy. Join Now. reclaiming.eu/spo

⚖️𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝘄𝘀𝘂𝗶𝘁 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗢𝗿𝗯𝗮́𝗻'𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗟𝗮𝘄 For years, the EP has condemned the degradation of civic space throughout the EU. Now, its steadfast condemnations have sparked a groundbreaking human rights case to protect civic space. Well done, EP!

🔴 𝗗𝗲𝗻𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗟𝗮𝘄𝘀𝘂𝗶𝘁 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗢𝗿𝗯𝗮́𝗻’𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗟𝗮𝘄 #Denmark is now the second Member State to announce its intervention alongside the Commission in the case against Hungary’s "Sovereignty Protection Law". ~~𝑊ℎ𝑖𝑐ℎ 𝑀𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑝 𝑢𝑝 𝑛𝑒𝑥𝑡? ~~

🥳🇨🇿 This is huge! Czechs are the first to join the EU Commission’s lawsuit against Orbán’s Russia-style foreign agent law, which targets Hungarian anti-corruption and environmental activists, plus investigative journalists. A key symbolic move and show of solidarity. Děkuji!🙏

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝘇𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗶𝘀 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗣𝗢 𝗟𝗮𝘄𝘀𝘂𝗶𝘁. 👏 The #Czech Republic is the first country to officially support the Commission in its proceedings against Hungary’s Sovereignty Protection Law at the CJEU. More good news to come… #EULaw #EUJustice #CJEU #ruleoflaw #civicspace

🔴 𝗨𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁 𝗕𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗢𝗿𝗯𝗮́𝗻’𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘄 𝗕𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝘀 EU Member States have until February 27, 2025, to join this crucial lawsuit. Here’s why this is a pivotal moment for democracy across Europe and how you can help us 🧵

€𝟭.𝟬𝟰 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗿𝘆💸 This week, Hungary has lost EU funds for the first time since the EU initially froze €32.4 billion in 2022. It’s a bit of a saga, so let’s dive into the details 🧵

🎙️ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚: Commission vs Hungary on Klubrádió Case 🗓️ 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧? Monday 2 December 2024 at 14:30 📍 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞? European Court of Justice 📂 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞? In 2020, Hungary’s Media Council didn't renew Klubrádió’s FM broadcasting rights and imposed rules that forced Klubrádió off the air 🧵1/5

🚨 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐔’𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭: 𝐇𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐲’𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢-𝐋𝐆𝐁𝐓𝐈𝐐+ 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚 𝐥𝐚𝐰 𝐯𝐬. 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐔. Last Tuesday (19 Nov), we joined 400+ people packed into a courtroom meant for 200 to witness history unfold. Here’s what went down: 🎥⚖️⬇️

Hi there! We're happy to be joining BSKY! And we have some interesting news to kick off our account... 👀