Brussels, 15/04/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission hopes that the new Hungarian constitution, fiercely criticised by the opposition, will comply with European values, said a spokesperson on Friday 15 April. Matthew Newman, a spokesperson for EU Justice and Fundamental Rights Commissioner Viviane Reding, recalled the comments made 10 days ago at the European Parliament by the president of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso.
Barroso said that the European Commission would be monitoring developments in Hungary from the viewpoint of the EU, but hoped that the Hungarian authorities would ensure that the new constitution reflected the values upon which the EU has been built. He added that it was for the Hungarian government to decide on the content and adoption procedure for the new constitution, under Hungarian law or under international law or EU law. The planned adoption on Monday of a new constitution, including references to God and family values, is extremely controversial in Hungary. Critics of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán talk of a putsch and have called a demonstration. In Brussels on Thursday, Orbán said he was prepared to let the European Commission study the document. The EU can only examine aspects of national constitutions relating to EU law. Hungary's current constitution dates back to 1949, but underwent a root-and-branch overhaul when the Communist regime collapsed in 1989. (L.C./transl.fl)