LN: Prague correctly backs Budapest against EC's pressure

Prague, Feb 25 (CTK) - Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban certainly is no ideal partner but it is good that Prague supported him against the unprecedented pressure the European Commission has recently been exerting on Hungary, Daniel Kaiser writes in Lidove noviny daily Saturday.

The EC has proposed that EU funds of 495 million euros for Hungary should be frozen, arguing that Budapest is not doing enough to curb its deficit under 3 percent of its GDP.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas said on Friday that the EC seems to turn its disciplinary proceedings not into a political instrument rather than into an execution of justice, Kaiser writes.

He quotes Necas as saying in his Friday statement that "all Member States must be judged equally."

The suspension of Cohesion Fund commitments should be exercised very carefully and in a just manner, Necas says in this statement.

This point can hardly be challenged, Kaiser points out.

Even if the incomes from the nationalised pension funds are not taken into account, the Hungarian deficit is not higher than that of the powerful France, Kaiser writes.

Has anybody heard of the European Commission stopping payments to Nicolas Sarkozy? he asks.

Who wants equal conditions for himself, should speak up when others are being deprived of them, Kaiser writes.

He notes that apart from seeking justice Necas may have other reasons for his yesterday's statement, related to domestic politics.

Those critics of Necas who cannot understand why he voted against the fiscal pact at the latest EU summit may find arguments supporting Necas's position in the case of Hungary, Kaiser writes.

It is known that the EC had political disputes with Hungary some time ago. Now the EC connected the politics with the money from the Cohesion Fund, Kaiser says.

He says the EU fiscal treaty give more powers to the EC. If a member state has a too high budget deficit and the EC orders it to take certain measures and the state disagrees, the given state may avoid these measures only if a qualified majority in the Council of Europe supports it against the EC, Kaiser writes.

Why should the EC that has shown that it uses double standards and makes wilful decisions get more powers? Kaiser asks.