Hungary wants "objective" treatment after replying to EU concerns

Feb 17, 2012, 14:33 GMT

Brussels - Hungary said Friday it wants to be judged fairly after complying with European Union demands to justify controversial new legislation on its central bank, data protection authority and retirement ages for judges.

Last month, the EU's executive, the European Commission, started legal proceedings against Hungary, and gave the conservative government of Viktor Orban a 30-day deadline - expiring Friday - to explain its actions in writing.

The commission also asked questions about the general functioning of the judiciary in Hungary and the independence of the media - which critics say has been muzzled by a law giving extensive powers to a new media regulation authority.

'Previous experience shows that we can expect an objective, impartial, professionally and legally sound analysis (of the answers provided) from the commission,' two Hungarian government spokesmen said in a statement that was circulated to Brussels journalists.

They did not give details about Hungary's reply.

The EU has told the country that unless changes were made to its central bank law and assurances were given about the functioning of the judicial system, discussions could not start on a precautionary loan that Budapest needs to avoid bankruptcy.

Orban has been accused of authoritarian tendencies since winning an over-two-thirds parliamentary majority in 2010, which has allowed his party Fidesz to get a new constitution adopted without having to consult the opposition.

On Thursday, the European Parliament asked its civil liberties committee to draw up a report checking whether the country is still in line with EU democratic norms and expressed 'serious concern' about the situation there.

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