The Venice Commission has altered its former communication; according to the new position, if Parliament adopts the amendments to the laws concerned, the Council of Europe’s expert body concerned with issues of constitutional law will abandon its criticisms related to the Hungarians laws on administrative courts, Justice Minister László Trócsányi told the Hungarian news agency MTI on Saturday.

According to the Minister, Gergely Gulyás, the Minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office, Minister of State for Justice Pál Völner and Member of Parliament Csaba Hende (Fidesz) will submit motions of amendment to the Hungarian laws on administrative courts. Pursuant to this, the justice minister’s decision-making powers will be further clarified, and another two full members will be added to the National Administrative Judicial Council. Mr Trócsányi stressed that as a result, on the whole, a healthy balance may come into being in the external administration of courts between the justice minister and the self-administration body of courts.

He said the Venice Commission welcomed these proposals, and at the Minister’s request altered the former press communique which only contained criticisms, indicating that if the legislative amendment to be submitted to Parliament is adopted, its criticisms will no longer be relevant.

The Minister said it was important to highlight that in this case Hungary will comply with the Venice Commission’s requirements.

According to Mr Trócsányi, the atmosphere of the talks was highly constructive, and the Venice Commission also welcomed the fact that the Hungarian government had taken its preliminary opinion seriously and would address the issues that were previously raised with legislative amendments. Based on these developments, the Minister believes that the criticisms and fears that emerged in connection with the independence of administrative courts will no longer be relevant.

(Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister/MTI)