Hungarian PM visits EU leaders to ease dispute

(AP)  BRUSSELS — Hungary's prime minister visited European Union leaders Tuesday in an effort to resolve a dispute over whether his government is breaching EU laws regarding the independence of the central bank and the judiciary.

The EU has launched legal proceedings against Hungary over the issues, and also over its contention that the country does not respect data privacy principles. Critics fear that the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban is drifting toward authoritarianism.

There appeared to be signs of progress, Tuesday — essential to Hungary's effort to get financial help from the EU and the International Monetary Fund.

Jose Manuel Barroso, the president of the European Commission — the EU's executive arm — called his discussions with Orban "constructive."

"The Prime Minister indicated Hungary's readiness to address swiftly the issues raised by the Commission," Barroso said in a written statement late Tuesday.

But Orban's meeting earlier in the day with Martin Schulz, the blunt-spoken new president of the European Parliament, was less successful. After a private conversation, Orban found himself listening while Schulz doled out criticism in front of reporters.

He accused Orban of "taking on board in Brussels the European rhetoric" then criticizing it as unacceptable when he was back home, and said Orban should bear in mind that European leaders were not stupid.

Orban also met Herman Van Rompuy, the president of the European Council, the committee formed of the 27 EU heads of government. No statement was issued following that meeting.

Hungary has requested financial help from the EU and the International Monetary Fund and both institutions have said they won't begin aid talks until the independence of the Hungarian central bank has been ensured.

Also Tuesday, European Commission Vice President Neelie Kroes met with the head of Klubradio, a radio station in Hungary that she said often aired critical political commentary.

"They have lost 8 local frequencies in 2011 alone," Kroes said. "These developments make me worried about media pluralism and media freedom in Hungary."

Scientific American

• Hungarian PM visits EU leaders to ease dispute