The European Commission has threatened legal action against Hungary for legislation that restricts young people's access to information about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues.
"The Hungarian bill is a shame," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday. "I have instructed my responsible commissioners to write a letter to the Hungarian authorities expressing our legal concerns before the bill enters into force."
During a meeting in Luxembourg on Tuesday, 13 EU countries called on the commission to take Hungary to the bloc's highest court over the measures.
The legislation in question, approved by the Hungarian parliament last week but not yet the law, stops books or films depicting any sexual mores other than heterosexuality being accessible to young people or children.
It also bans adverts that portray homosexual or transgender people as being a normal part of society.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto had defended the changes on Tuesday, arguing that the reforms were primarily about preventing child sex abuse and only ensured that young people's sexual orientation education was up to their parents alone.
But the commission's chief disagreed.
'Discrimination'
"This bill clearly discriminates against people on the basis of their sexual orientation," von der Leyen said. "I will use all the powers of the commission to ensure that the rights of all EU citizens are guaranteed."
The provisions are part of a Hungarian legislative package that centres on stricter punishments for sexual violence against children and young people, and sets up a 'paedophile register.'
The European Commission can start infringement procedures against individual countries if it believes them to breach EU law. If a member state does not respond to the commission's satisfaction within a certain time frame, the EU executive can take the country to the European Court of Justice.
If the court finds an EU country to breach the bloc's rules, it can ultimately impose fines.
Brussels and Budapest's world views have been clashing on a frequent basis regarding a host of issues, mainly related to fundamental rights and democratic values.
