The Commission on Friday (15 July) started an infringement procedure against Hungary for its discriminatory fuel price policy and took Budapest to EU court over a law banning LGBTQ content to minors and the closure of an independent radio station.
The salvo of proceedings marks a further escalation of discord between the EU executive and Budapest.
“Measures like these are very concerning. They disrupt our most important asset to face crises and instability, the single market,” European Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton, said upon the announcement.
This comes after last month, Breton sent a warning letter to Hungary’s technology minister asking Budapest to suspend a policy of charging higher fuel prices for vehicles with foreign licence plates, or risk being taken to court.
The warning concerned steps taken by Hungary in May, when Budapest said trucks weighing over 7.5 tonnes and cars with foreign licence plates weighing over 3.5 tonnes would not be eligible for subsidised fuel at 480 forints (€1.2) per litre but would have to pay market prices.
Hungary has said the measure was triggered by fuel tourism and increasing transit traffic that pushed up fuel consumption.
Slovaks rush to Hungary for cheap gas as ‘petrol tourism’ era ends
After the government in Budapest announced it will only allow cars with Hungarian license plates to buy petrol for capped prices at the country’s petrol stations, motorists from neighbouring Slovakia rushed across the border. Meanwhile, petrol station owners warn the …
The policy since then has been popular with most Hungarians who are struggling with surging inflation and rising energy prices across the bloc against the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Hungary’s chief government spokesperson Gergely Gulyás said on Wednesday the government currently plans to keep the fuel price cap until 1 October.
“Any extraordinary event will be responded to by the government,” he said.
Hungary capped fuel prices in mid-November and added caps to some food staples in February.
However, since then, a number of market players have spoken against the measures, with the Independent Petrol Stations Association calling them “impossible and unfeasible” to implement.
Zsolt Hernádi, CEO of MOL, a fossil fuel giant that occupies about two-thirds of the Hungarian market, said on Sunday (10 July) Hungary has a relative fuel shortage, Telex reported.
We are in an extremely dangerous period, as domestic fuel consumption is increasing due to the price cap, while fuel imports have practically stopped, Hernádi said in an interview with broadcaster ATV.
Asked how long the 480 forint price cap can be maintained, Hernádi said that we are far beyond this point, and “we have started to gamble a little”.
“Especially in times of crisis, it is essential to preserve and strengthen mutual trust and solidarity across the continent,” Breton said, adding that member states should “resist the temptation of going it alone”.
“We saw at the start of the COVID pandemic that uncoordinated individual responses and a series of national export bans led to worsening the situation for everyone,” he added.
Breton also announced that the European Commission the “maintaining the free flow of goods, services and persons and protecting our supply chains in times of crisis” will be subject of the Single Market Emergency Instrument the EU executive plans to present in September.
Media freedom and LGBTIQ+ rights
In a separate decision, the Commission also decided on Friday to refer Hungary to the European Court of Justice over the Hungarian Media Council’s 2021 decisions to reject broadcaster Klubrádió’s application for a broadcasting licence.
Klubrádió, Hungary’s last independent public affairs radio station was forced to move online completely in February 2021 after losing its court appeal against the national media council’s refusal to extend its licence, prompting an outcry from domestic and international media watchdogs.
The European Commission then in June last year launched infringement proceedings against Hungary for taking the decision to reject Klubrádió’s application “on highly questionable grounds”.
Commission says Hungary’s move to force independent radio off air goes against EU law
The European Commission is launching infringement proceedings against Hungary over the Hungarian Media Council’s decisions to reject broadcaster Klubrádió’s application for a broadcasting licence “on highly questionable grounds,” the European executive said on Wednesday (9 June).
Klubrádió, …
The Commission also decided to refer Hungary to the EU court over a law adopted in June 2021 banning “promoting or portraying” homosexuality or sex reassignment to minors.
Portrayal and promotion – Hungary's LGBTQI+ law explained
Controversy over a new Hungarian law banning LGBTQI+ references for minors is set to be raised by several EU leaders during their 24-25 June summit, originally intended to focus on foreign policy issues. But what is this law, and how does it fit into the Hungarian government’s anti-LGBT agenda? EURACTIV’s media partner Telex takes a closer look.
The EU’s executive said it considers Budapest’s ban in violation of a host of bloc laws, among these are the EU’s fundamental freedoms such as free movement of goods and services, as well as audiovisual and e-Commerce.
“The protection of children is an absolute priority for the EU and for its member states,” the EU executive said in a press release.
“However, the Hungarian law contains provisions which are not justified on the basis of promoting this fundamental interest or are disproportionate to achieve the stated objective,” it added.
Source: euractiv.com
