Czechia Joins EU Lawsuit Against Hungary’s Sovereignty Protection Law 

The controversial Sovereignty Protection Office claims to guard Hungary’s constitution but faces criticism for targeting civil society, press freedom and dissent

5 February 2025

Czechia is the first EU country to formally back the European Commission’s lawsuit against Hungary’s Sovereignty Protection Law, which critics say mirrors Russia’s foreign agent legislation.

In a major symbolic move, Czechia has become the first EU member state to join the European Commission’s lawsuit against Hungary’s Sovereignty Protection Law. The controversial legislation underpins the Sovereignty Protection Office (SPO), which has been widely criticised for targeting investigative journalists, anti-corruption activists, and civil society groups.

The Czech government’s intervention strengthens the EU’s legal challenge, reinforcing concerns that the law mirrors Russia’s foreign agent legislation, which has been used to stifle opposition. The case, now before the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), highlights growing resistance within the EU to Hungary’s tightening restrictions on civic space.

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Luca Soltesz

Luca is from Hungary, but has lived in Denmark, Belgium and the Netherlands before returning to her home country. She just finished Political Science in Amsterdam, where her thesis focused on party politics and party funding. She is interested in regional politics, and is writing about Hungary and the Western Balkans at Visegrad Insight.

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