The infringement procedure related to the refugee quotas is major exertion of pressure on the part of the European Commission, but this is a consequence of the fact that the distribution mechanism is not working, and most of the Member States failed to implement it, Justice Minister László Trócsányi said in answer to a journalist’s question at his press conference held in Budapest on 14 June 2017.
The Court of the European Union is currently investigating Hungary’s theoretical position, and a decision is expected in the autumn. The distribution mechanism itself is valid for a period of two years and will expire at the end of September. In light of the fact that most EU Member States do not honour the quotas falling on them as part of the distribution mechanism in practice, the infringement procedure instituted against Hungary is strange and can also be seen as an attempt to exert pressure, Mr Trócsányi said.
The European Commission announced on Tuesday that it is instituting infringement procedures against Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic for not implementing the former decision on the setting up of the mandatory EU refugee quotas.
In answer to a question regarding the legislative amendment related to the funding of non-governmental organisations from abroad, the Justice Minister drew attention to the fact that this issue is topical throughout Europe, the European Parliament itself is dealing with it and has appointed a rapporteur on the topic, and there are European countries which likewise embarked on the regulation of this area.
We cannot bury our heads in the sand, the problem exists, transparency is important in the case of every player with an impact on public life, Mr Trócsányi stressed.
(Ministry of Justice/MTI)
