Brussels, 19/04/2012 (Agence Europe) - During the night of Tuesday to Wednesday, the Hungarian government submitted to the country's parliament changes to the controversial ruling on the central bank, which should now make it possible to get the talks rolling again with the EU and the International Monetary Fund on an aid package of between €15 and €20 billion, for which Hungary wants to apply.
In a press release, the Hungarian economy ministry says that the Hungarian government has lodged with the parliament its changes to the central bank law concerning a number of issues challenged by the European Commission. Under the amendments, a government representative will no longer attend meetings of the central bank's Monetary Council, and the Monetary Council will no longer have to submit its agenda to the government, explained the ministry, adding that the sections of the law will be removed regarding approval of the members of the Monetary Committee and the possibility of dissolving the Monetary Committee in the event of Hungary joining the euro. The Hungarian government said that a measure in the country's constitution would also be changed to remove the option of merging the central bank - MNB - and the financial institutions' supervisory body - PSZAF. The ministry explained that all the changes had been relayed to the European Commission, which is due now to decide on this matter by the end of April, along with two infringement proceedings against Hungary on the age of lawyers and the data protection authority, explained a European Commission spokesperson on Thursday. (SP/transl.fl)