Referring to the national emergency measures taken in response to Covid-19, including the indefinite full powers granted to the Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, the European Commission Vice-President responsible for Values and Transparency, Vera Jourova, confirmed on Wednesday 29 April that the Commission could not at this stage launch an infringement against the controversial Hungarian measures.
“I have studied the Hungarian emergency law very carefully and, when we read the law itself, we still see no reason to start an infringement proceeding”, the official said, insisting that she “did say ‘at this stage’”.
The Commission continues to “monitor the way in which the Hungarian government uses its very broad discretionary powers”, she added at a press conference.
Ten days ago, EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders told a CEPS event on the rule of law in the EU (see EUROPE 12464/26) that the Commission, at this stage, does not have the tools to launch infringements, in particular because emergency measures fall under national laws on the state of emergency and do not constitute a Community competence. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)