Brussels, 12/04/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 12 April, European Commission spokesman Olivier Bailly explained that the Commission was expected to give its verdict on the Hungarian “case” by May. He explained that the European college of commissioners would hold a political discussion on the different procedures opened against Hungary between now and next month. Without providing any further explanations with regard to the timeframe, the Commission spokesman did underline the unusual swiftness with which the Commission had taken action against Hungary by giving it, for example, only one month to respond to the Commission's questions, as opposed to the usual two-month deadline.
On 7 March, the Commission sent the government of Viktor Orban (the latter will actually be visiting Brussels on 23 April) two reasoned opinions on reforms regarding the retirement age of judges and the authority of data protection, as well as two administrative letters on the concept of justice and the independence of the national central bank. The country failed to respond by the given deadline and the Commission is currently analysing different procedures to take in this regard.
The launch of talks on the loan (estimated to be between €15 and 20 billion) which the Hungarian government is seeking from the IMF and the EU, will depend on this Commission analysis. On Thursday Bailly pointed out that one of the conditions requested by the European Commission was the certainty that in Hungary there was “a stable legal environment, which was indispensable to any financial assistance programme”. (SP/transl.fl)