The Austrian authorities sent documents concerning the case to Hungary.

The Hungarian authorities do not recognise such sentences unless the documents are translated into Hungarian.

The Hungarian court raised the question as to whether the court or the defendant should pay for the cost of translation.

The European court said sentences passed in one country should be recognised on basis of the information shared under the European criminal record information system (ECRIS) in another.

The court added that Hungary’s procedures contradicted the European principle under which court decisions are mutually recognised among EU members.

Recognition of a court decision passed in one member cannot be conditional on a special procedure in another member state, the ruling said.

Republished with permission of Hungary Matters, MTI’s daily newsletter.