EU To Review Hungary Land Law

  • 20 Feb 2014 8:00 AM
EU To Review Hungary Land Law
The European Commission is examining Hungary’s land law, and if it finds it incompatible with EU law it will take steps to urge its amendment. Austrian Farm Minister Andrä Rupprechter complained to his Hungarian counterpart, Sándor Fazekas, about the law which, when it is enforced in May, will strip Austrian farmers of their rights to benefit from Hungarian farmland.

Fazekas called Rupprechter’s subsequent decision to approach Brussels “another unfriendly step”. Chantal Hughes, a commission spokesperson, told MTI that the EU sees restrictions on land sales to people from other EU countries as a restriction of free movement of capital, a basic freedom of the single market.

“The Commission is currently in the process of analysing the provisions of the new Hungarian legislation … in view of the fact that Hungary’s temporary derogation in this field, as provided by the Accession Treaty, will expire on 30 April 2014.”

It treats as a separate issue the question of expropriation of Austrian farmers who are already using farmland in Hungary, she added.

“Should the Commission conclude that Hungarian legislation is not in line with EU law, it will take the necessary steps to ensure that the respective measures are amended.”

Source www.hungarymatters.hu

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