The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary expresses its concern over the Serbian Constitutional Court's recent ruling, which declared certain provisions of the law on national councils unconstitutional.

While the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary pays due respect to the principle of the independence of the Constitutional Court, it expresses its concern over the fact that the ruling would limit the powers of the Hungarian National Council of Vojvodina and narrow the scope of the rights acquired thus far by the ethnic Hungarian minority.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary considers it regretful that the Constitutional Court has revoked some of the competences of the national councils but finds it reassuring that the bulk of the authority of the Hungarian National Council of Vojvodina and the foundations of minority autonomy were left intact.

It is particularly regretful that the Constitutional Court eliminated the minority councils' right to cooperate with the government organisations of their parent nations, it said. Serbia's talks on EU accession, scheduled to begin on Tuesday, will provide a broader opportunity for the Serbian Government to develop its legal system in line with the European Union's expectations and standards.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs)