Hungarian diplomats advised to stave off criticism

Speaking at the annual ambassadors' conference at the Hungarian Foreign Ministry in Budapest, Hungarian Minister of Justice László Trócsányi has called on the country's diplomats to stave off criticism of areas such as Hungary’s judicial system with suitable arguments.

After his speech, Minister Trócsányi who has previously served Hungary as ambassador, claimed in an interview with the Hungarian news agency MTI that European values have always been important, but member states should not be expected to “give up their constitutional identity”.

Hungary’s constitutional identity consists, among others, of our historical traditions, our values and our cultural, educational, national and social policies, the Minister said.

With relation to European issues, Minister Trócsányi said that political and legal aspects should not be confused during the regulation of constitutional legal mechanisms at European level, warning that otherwise the ensuing disputes could “tear the EU apart”.

Referring to the planned establishment of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, Minister Trócsányi warned that conflicts between the competences of national legal authorities and the planned institution should be avoided.