Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Public Administration Tibor Navracsics participated in the hearing called by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) on Thursday where he reinforced that the Hungarian government intended to continue dialogue with the EU and was committed to freedom, democracy and the rule of law. He asked representatives not to judge according to prejudices, superficial knowledge and political interest, but to state their opinion based on accurate information, in the providing of which the government gives every possibility.

The minister, referring to the negotiations regarding the modification of the media law last year, reminded that there was a continuous cooperation between the LIBE Committe and the Hungarian government, as he stated, ’this is an intensive procedure which ahd its results int he past as well.’

As regards to the Act on data protection, Tibor Navracsics said that the government agrees with the committee that the independence of the data protection authority and ombudsman has to be increased. The body text has already been drafted which the government will consult with the committee and if they reach an agreement, the Act may finally be modified.

Speaking of the amendments to the Act on the retirement age of judges, he confirmed that the government did not regard it as a matter of jurisdiction but as an issue of the reform of the pension system. There is an onging reform of the pension system in Hungary, in the course of which the government and Parliament seek to create a regulation that is as general as possible and free from exceptions. Thus the general retirement age will be applied in jurisdiction as well.

(kormany.hu)