A meeting between European Commission President José Manuel Barroso and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, aimed at bridging differences over Hungary's controversial state reforms, ended up inconclusively yesterday (24 January). Meanwhile, finance ministers opened the way for sanctions to be imposed on Budapest over its deficit. Orbán took a conciliatory tone after the end of his visit to the Commission's headquarters, but the statement, released by Barroso's office, made it clear there was little progress. Piling further pressure on Orbán, EU finance ministers issued a statement just before the meeting, warning that Hungary could see its regional funding cut if it continues to break the EU's deficit limits. Orbán was expected to present a calendar for changes to recently enacted Hungarian laws that the Commission and critics say could undermine the independence of the country's central bank, data protection authority and judiciary. On 17 January the Commission launched infringement procedures in those three fields, giving the Hungarian authorities one month to respond.
A meeting between European Commission President José Manuel Barroso and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, aimed at bridging differences over Hungary's controversial state reforms, ended up inconclusively yesterday (24 January). Meanwhile, finance ministers opened the way for sanctions to be imposed on Budapest over its deficit.
Orbán took a conciliatory tone after the end of his visit to the Commission's headquarters, but the statement, released by Barroso's office, made it clear there was little progress.
Piling further pressure on Orbán, EU finance ministers issued a statement just before the meeting, warning that Hungary could see its regional funding cut if it continues to break the EU's deficit limits.
Orbán was expected to present a calendar for changes to recently enacted Hungarian laws that the Commission and critics say could undermine the independence of the country's central bank, data protection authority and judiciary.
On 17 January the Commission launched infringement procedures in those three fields, giving the Hungarian authorities one month to respond.
Also meanwhile, there is at least one European body that is intent on dealing with Fidesz's legal coup in a truly broad way: the Venice Commission (a body under the Council of Europe which reviews laws) wants to review several more laws beyond what it already reviewed last year (those included the new constitution itself). *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
