Navracsics responded to a recent interview that appeared in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung in which Ms Reding, speaking in connection with Ireland's decision not to extradite an Irishman convicted for killing two Hungarian children in a car accident, suggested that a number of Hungarian measures had raised questions about the independence of its judiciary.

"I find it outrageous and absolutely unacceptable to bring the execution of a verdict in a specific case in correlation with the assessment of the independence of the judiciary in any way," Tibor Navracsics said in the letter. He added that that drawing a parallel between "questioning the independence of the judiciary and the decision of the Irish court undermines the values and mutual trust to be represented and safeguarded by the European Commission."

Whereas Hungary appreciates the Commission as "one of the most important institutions in Europe", the minister asked the commissioner to "kindly refrain from making public statements that lack sufficient grounds as well as harbouring general benevolence."

Source: Ministry of Public Administration and Justice