Brussels, 06/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 7 March, the European Commission is expected to say how it plans to follow up the three infringement proceedings opened against Hungary on 17 February this year. The proceedings in question relate to the independence of the central bank in Hungary, the retirement age for judges and the data protection authority. The Commission had also sent two other requests for clarification to Budapest, regarding the more general conception of justice and the independence of the system, as well as on the media law and freedom of the press.
The relevant commissioners should, on Wednesday, present the result of their analyses, as Budapest answered these requests in time on 17 February. European Commissioner Viviane Reding, who is responsible for justice matters, told a press conference on Monday 5 March, however, that the answers to the three infringement letters were “vague”.
Hungary is at the heart of a series of actions lashed out by the Commission, the latest being the proposal made by Commissioner Olli Rehn to freeze the payment of nearly €500 million in structural funds as of 2013, due to the lack of progress made by Budapest in reducing its budgetary deficit (see related article). In addition to infringements open, which above all delay discussion on the loan that Hungary has asked of the EU and the IMF, Hungary is also the subject of two resolutions of the European Parliament, denouncing Hungary's 2011 media law and, more recently, the general state of its democracy.
Regarding the three infringement proceedings, Hungary had at any rate hinted that it would not give way to the Commission's requests, such as, for the central bank, the obligation to take the oath or to cap the governor's salary. According to certain Hungarian media, the country is preparing for procedures being continued against it further to the college's decision. A number of problems could be resolved rapidly but others might be the subject of a second phase in infringement proceedings, namely assent, a spokesman for Prime Minister Orban explained. “On one or two questions, it is conceivable that the Commission will enter a new phase as we have not been able to find an agreement or our arguments have not been accepted”, said Peter Szijjarto.
Janos Lazar, who heads the Fidesz parliamentary group and who was cited by Bloomberg, said there will be different results, some of which will be taken before the courts, while, on other points, it may be possible to come to an agreement. He went on to add, moreover, that the Hungarian government would remain firm in its resolve. (SP/transl.jl)