The European Union threatens to withhold $ 150 million in aid from Polish provinces over the country’s anti-LGBTQ zones.
The European Commission sent letters to the governors of five provinces that established these areas, warning that the money would be withheld if the areas were not rescinded, Bloomberg News reported.
The newspaper quoted reports from the Polish media that were confirmed by an official with knowledge of the matter.
The funds come from the React-EU program, which was intended to assist in recovery efforts, according to the media. Poland is allocated more than 1.5 billion euros ($ 1.7 billion) in aid.
A Commission spokesman confirmed to The Hill that it sent letters to the provinces on Friday, warning them to comply with the agency’s formal notice sent on July 15.
The Commission then announced that it was taking legal action against Poland for the “free zones of LGBT ideology,” saying the Polish government was obstructing the Commission’s ability to conduct a review of the law.
A Polish government spokesman made no immediate comment to Bloomberg.
According to Bloomberg, almost a third of Poland’s municipalities have adopted the declaration by mid-2020. However, the statements have fueled fears of discrimination, despite having no legal significance.
The Commission also said it would take action against Hungary to pass a law banning students under the age of 18 from seeing content that “encourages” homosexuality.
Updated at 12:26 p.m.