Politics
22:07, 13-Jul-2017
EU launches legal action against Hungary over NGO crackdown
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The European Union (EU) on Thursday launched fresh, legal action against Hungary for its new law on foreign-backed non-governmental organizations (NGOs), AFP reported.
A poster with US billionaire George Soros in Szekesfehervar, Hungary on July 6, 2017. /VCG Photo
A poster with US billionaire George Soros in Szekesfehervar, Hungary on July 6, 2017. /VCG Photo
European Commission deputy head Frans Timmermans called for the Hungarian government to respond within a month to Brussels' criticism that the Higher Education Law could shut down a Budapest university founded by the US billionaire and financier George Soros.
"Today, the European Commission decided to send a letter of formal notice to Hungary for its new law on foreign-funded NGO adopted on 13 June," Timmermans said in a statement.
European Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans. /VCG Photo
European Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans. /VCG Photo
"We have studied the new law on NGOs carefully and have come to the conclusion that it does not comply with EU law," he added.
The Hungarian government has claimed that the new law is meant to improve transparency and to fight money laundering and terrorism funding.
(With input from AFP)
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