EU Commissioner asks government for concrete reform steps

The European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, Olli Rehn has contacted the Hungarian government in writing, asking for a list of planned reform steps, the Hungarian business daily Világgazdaság said on Tuesday.

Rehn asked the government to assert its commitment to fulfilling the recommendations by the Economic and Financial Affairs (ECOFIN) Council and announce without delay "concrete", "permanent" and "specific" measures that support this.

The steps are needed because the Council has become aware of "fiscal developments" that may not be "in keeping with" EU recommendations, Rehn's press chief, Amadeu Altafaj Tardio told the paper.

The government has already informed ECOFIN about plans to announce a consolidation package in February that will include new structural and permanent reforms, Tardio said.

"This is a positive development. However, we would like to assess these steps first and draw further conclusions after that," he added.

He declined to reveal further details about the letter addressed to Hungarian Economy Minister György Matolcsy.