Brussels, 03/05/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 3 May, the European Commission sent three administrative letters to the Hungarian authorities to ask for an explanation on the points of contention raised by the latest revision of the Hungarian constitution, a spokesperson for the European Commission, Olivier Bailly, stated on Friday. The three letters pick up the points that had been made by European Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Viviane Reding to the European Parliament on 17 April - in other words, the amendments concerning the possibility of taxing citizens for paying fines imposed by the European Court of Justice, a proposed tax using this approach being provided for in Article 17 of the new constitution; the restrictions placed on political advertising in the media, also impacting on the electoral campaign for the European elections in 2104; and lastly, the amendments on extending the powers given to the head of the national office for justice with regard to transferring cases from one law court to another. The three letters were sent by the Commission on Thursday, and Budapest has one month to provide satisfactory explanations. If these replies are not given, “we will move on to formal notifications”, Bailly said, and if necessary to infringement procedures. The fresh controversy between Brussels and Budapest dates back to 11 March, when the Hungarian parliament adopted its fourth revision of the Hungarian consititution in less than two years. The Council of Europe, amongst others, had at that time called on the Hungarian parliament not to go ahead with this vote. The Council of Europe is preparing a legal analysis through its Venice commission - an analysis which will be made public on around 15 June. (SP/transl.fl)