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Every year, the EU has a hearing on alleged violations of fundamental rights in Hungary. Every year, the threat of activating Art. 7, depriving Hungary of its voting rights, is raised and every year fails, because it needs at least 22 votes over 27. This year was no exception.

However, on May 27, twenty member states signed a statement condemning Budapest’s ban on Gay Pride, under a new Constitutional provision that protects minors from homosexual propaganda. The statement was not in reference to Art. 7, “but the message is clear,” a diplomatic source told Italian broadcaster Rainews. A toothless message indeed.

The news is not so much the statement, but the fact that six other EU members, in addition to Hungary, did not sign: Italy, Poland, Croatia, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria.

Hungary’s veto has so far blocked procedures for Ukrainian membership in the EU. It looks like that won’t change in the future.