Foreign minister meets Venice Commission delegation

Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi on Monday met a visiting delegation of the Venice Commission for talks on Hungary's cardinal laws concerning the judiciary and religious organisations.

Parties at the talks reviewed "legal and technical concerns and critical remarks" related to legislation governing the legal status of and remuneration for judges, the organisation and administration of law courts, as well as Hungary's church law, said a statement the Foreign Ministry sent to MTI.

The Council of Europe's Venice Commission is conducting its review at the request of Hungarian authorities, and is expected to complete a position by the middle of March.

In a letter addressed to Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi in January, Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland suggested requesting that the Venice Commission provide opinions on laws relevant for the judiciary's independence, religious freedom and elections to parliament. He also suggested that Hungary should request the expertise of the Council of Europe on the media law.