Brussels, 27/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - The Committee of the Regions (CoR) considers that the European Commission response to the excessive public deficit in Hungary raises a number of questions (see EUROPE 10559). Although there is a threat to freeze €495 million from cohesion funds to Hungary if the country fails to take any corrective measures, the president of the Socialist group at the CoR, Karl-Heinz Lambertz, explained: “One can completely disagree with the economic, social and constitutional policy of Viktor Orban but nevertheless not be delighted by the threat brandished by the Commission.” He casts doubt about this measure as an incentive and considers that “the Commission is increasingly carrying out a monothematic policy of austerity”.
Lambertz also sounds the alarm with regard to the impossible situation in which the regional and local authorities find themselves in Hungary. In a reference to the procedures that have begun against Hungary, he said: “I particularly regret that the regional authorities currently find themselves in a situation between the devil (the damages caused by Mr Orban, particularly at a level of taxation and local autonomy) and the deep blue sea, created by the Commission's policy.” This case will be treated by the college of European commissioners during their weekly meeting on Wednesday 29 February. Earlier this year, the CoR expressed its regret that the new constitution which the Orban government had just put together for Hungary, authorises the dissolution of municipal councils by the national parliament in the event of the constitution being violated, without there even having to be a need for a judgment to be made by the Constitutional Court. (MD/transl.fl)