The fuel discount, which is controversial in the EU and can only be enjoyed by drivers of Hungarian vehicles, has now led to an infringement procedure by the Hungarian government. According to the EU Commission, discriminating against foreigners at petrol stations is against EU law.
According to the Commission, owners of Hungarian vehicles will pay 60 to 70 percent less fuel as a result. Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government introduced the rebate against the backdrop of high energy prices. In order to get the tank tourism from neighboring countries under control, the price ceiling was then limited.
The EU commission called on Hungary to comply with the rules for the free movement of goods and people within the EU, including with regard to transport services. Certainly in the current situation, it is important that the internal market works to dampen the effects of the war in Ukraine on the economy. Individual steps at the national level and discriminatory rules are not a solution, it said. If Hungary does not address the concerns during the procedure, the authority could refer the country to the European Court of Justice.
EU lawsuit over gay rights law
It was only Friday that it was announced that Brussels had already filed a lawsuit in two other disputes. On the one hand, it concerns a law that restricts information about homosexuality and transsexuality, as the authority announced on Friday in Brussels. The gay law had brought Orban strong headwinds in the EU last year. “This Hungarian law is a disgrace,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at the time. Prime Minister Mark Rutte made it clear that he sees no place for Hungary in the EU if the government in Budapest continues like this.
The law came into effect in July 2021. It prohibits children’s publications depicting non-heterosexual relationships. Advertising in which homosexuals or transsexuals appear as part of normality is also prohibited. Orban himself rejected any criticism of the new rules. The Hungarian government is concerned about the protection of minors, it was emphasized. However, the EU Commission believes that the law discriminates against minorities on the basis of, inter alia, their sexual orientation and gender identity, and is contrary to fundamental rights and EU values.
Repression against private broadcasters
The other case concerns the actions of the Hungarian authorities against the independent radio station Klubradio. The station was forced to stop FM broadcasts in February 2021 because the government media agency did not extend the broadcasting license. Since the taking office of right-wing Prime Minister Orban in 2010, the private broadcaster has been subject to regular repression by the media authorities. Before the license was revoked, he was only allowed to broadcast in the Budapest area, among other things. Currently, the club radio only broadcasts its program via the Internet, albeit with a much smaller range.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
