Hungary submits proposals aimed at avoiding loss of EU funds

Hungary's government has submitted a bill to parliament aimed at avoiding the loss of billions of euros from the European Union, Justice Minister Judit Varga has said, Report informs, citing foreign media.

The proposal modifies legislation relating to Hungary's cooperation with the EU's anti-fraud office and rules affecting state asset-management foundations.

Varga said on Facebook she had submitted the first bill to parliament as the government focuses on "drafting and implementing the commitments (to the EU) in coming weeks and months."

A day earlier, the EU's executive called for the suspension of 7.5 billion euros ($7.5 billion) in EU funding earmarked for Hungary over corruption, rights, and rule-of-law disputes.

The European Commission also set out requirements for Hungary to keep access to the funding, including new legislation.

Critics in Brussels have argued that cronyism under Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his Fidesz party's 12-year leadership, anti-LGBT legislation, and other backsliding threaten shared EU values.

Last week, the European Parliament approved a resolution saying Hungary was no longer a "full democracy," prompting Fidesz to accuse it of "attacking Hungary again."

Varga was quoted earlier by the Spanish newspaper El Correo de Espana as saying the European Parliament was waging an ideological witch-hunt against Hungary and was trying to hinder its negotiations with the commission about EU funds.

'We are engaging in a very constructive, very positive negotiating procedure," Varga told the newspaper regarding talks with the European Commission on the rule-of-law mechanism and the withheld recovery funds.