The Hungarian government has presented its official responses on Friday, before the deadline, to the European Commission on two ongoing infringement procedures concerning the retirement of judges and the independence of the data protection authority, and on two other questions under scrutiny, namely the independence of the National Bank of Hungary and the independence of the judiciary, the Government Spokesman’s Office told MTI on Friday.
The government has informed the European Commission in detail about legislation already announced, planned or in the process of adoption, which give substantive answers to the concerns raised by the European Commission and the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, the office said.
“The government trusts that these pieces of legislation and the supplementary explanation attached to them will provide a firm basis for the Commission to end the ongoing infringement procedures,” it said.
“The government believes that there should be no further obstacles in the way of starting the negotiations with the EU and the IMF on a credit line in the foreseeable future,” the office said.
The European Commission announced on March 7 to take two out of three infringement procedures against Hungary to the next stage.
The decisions affected the Commission’s concerns regarding Hungary lowering the retirement age of judges, as well as the independence of the data protection authority.
On the third matter, the independence of central bank, the Commission will request Hungary to supply more information.
