The Expert Council on NGO Law, a body of the Conference of International non-Governmental Organisations (CINGO), has just published an opinion on the Bill on the Transparency of Public Life which was submitted to the National Assembly of Hungary on 13 May 2025.
The opinion finds that "several of the Bill’s provisions are not sufficiently prescribed by the law as required when imposing restrictions on fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed by European standards. Moreover, there must be serious doubts as to whether the adoption of any of these provisions would have any legitimate aim under European standards.
Furthermore, having regard to:
- the resulting preclusion of foreign support for objectives consistent with European standards,
- the excessive obligations to disclose personal data,
- the misuse of the anti-money laundering and terrorist requirements,
- the overbreadth of the inspection powers,
- the excessive nature of the penalties proposed,
- the absence of an effective remedy in respect of the use of the powers that would be conferred and
- the loss of income for which there would at least be a legitimate expectation of receiving,
the measures contained in the Bill are not ones that could be considered as necessary in a democratic society.
Although debate on the Bill has now been postponed until the Autumn, the Opinion is being published now because of the significance of the threat that the implementation of its provisions would pose for the legitimate functioning of civil society organisations in Hungary. It is to be hoped that the postponement of its consideration becomes permanent."
Further information and reports of the Expert Council.
