Hungary breached European Union law by voting against the bloc’s agreed position on the classification of cannabis at a United Nations meeting, the EU’s top court ruled on Tuesday, January 27th.
The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) said Hungary failed to fulfil its obligations when it opposed a 2020 decision at the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs to remove cannabis from a category that also includes substances such as heroin.
The European Commission had launched infringement proceedings, arguing that drug classification falls under the EU’s exclusive external competence and that member states must adhere to positions adopted by qualified majority.
In its ruling, the Luxembourg-based court said Hungary acted in breach of the principle of sincere cooperation, which requires member states to support common EU objectives and refrain from unilateral action.
Hungary’s EU affairs minister János Bóka said Brussels was attempting to force “drug liberalisation” on the country, a direction he described as dangerous and unacceptable. He reiterated the Hungarian goverment’s long-standing “zero tolerance” approach to drugs, insisting it would not change its national policy or yield to external pressure.
Relations between Budapest and Brussels have been strained for years, with Hungary opposing the EU’s progressive ideology, pro-migration stance, and its efforts to aid Ukraine militarily. In 2024, the EU court ordered the country to pay a daily fine of €1 million for refusing to allow illegal migrants to enter Hungary.
