Brussels seeks more answers from Hungary

Article reports that Hungary has failed to satisfy the European Commission's concerns about the independence of the country’s central bank, pushing Budapest closer to legal sanctions and jeopardising its chances of securing a much-needed emergency credit line.

The European Commission said in March 2012 that it would seek further information from Budapest before escalating proceedings, including a possible referral to the European Court of Justice.

European Commission: RAPID: Press Release, IP/12/222: Hungary: Commission continues accelerated infringement procedure on independence of the data protection supervisor and measures affecting the judiciary and asks additional information on central bank's independence http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/12/222&format=PDF&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

EUObserver, 7.3.12: EU gives Hungary one-month to fix laws http://euobserver.com/843/115518

EurActiv, 8.3.12: Commission tightens the noose for Orbán http://www.euractiv.com/future-eu/commission-tightens-noose-orban-news-511376

ESO: Background information: Hungary's leader ready to back down in EU dispute / Orbán reprimanded by EU over budge http://www.europeansources.info/record/hungarys-leader-ready-to-back-down-in-eu-dispute-orban-reprimanded-by-eu-over-budget/

BBC News, 7.3.12: Hungary faces European court warning over new laws http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17289955

Deutsche Welle, 7.3.12; EU demands Hungary rewrite laws or face court http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15793136,00.html

Council Decision of 24 January 2012 establishing whether effective action has been taken by Hungary in response to the Council recommendation of 7 July 2009 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2012:066:0006:0008:EN:PDF

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