So far the Hungarian government has not adopted any laws during its response to the novel coronavirus pandemic that would violate European Union regulations, European Commission Vice-President Vera Jourová told Czech public service television (CT24) on Sunday.

„I am not worried yet. Hungary s laws passed in connection with the novel coronavirus epidemic have not so far violated European Union regulations,” Vera Jourova told the program s host in response to a question whether she was concerned about the situation in Hungary, according to Demokrata, a Hungarian daily newspaper. Ms Jourova said she had met Hungarian Justice Minister Judit Varga and discussed the Hungarian measures in detail with her.

The European Commission is reviewing whether member states regulations passed as part of the fight against the epidemic harm the rule of law, Vera Jourova emphasized.

She stated that being one of the leaders of the European Union, she had to review and analyse these moves with a „cold head”, adding that this also applies to Hungary. „We will monitor how [Hungary s] recently accepted laws are implemented,” she stressed.

MEP Alexandr Vondra, vice-president of the Czech opposition Civic Democratic Party (ODS), welcomed Ms Jourova s statement, which he said proved that „Hungarian laws have finally been read” in Brussels. The right-wing politician pointed out that a lot of information and opinions had been published both in Brussels and by the press that do not correspond to the reality in Hungary.

„I m not saying that we should not pay attention to Hungary,” Mr Vondra said. Ha added, however, that the „attacks” against Hungary had been launched „without a knowledge of Hungarian decisions and laws.”

The former Czech foreign minister and the vice-president of the European Commission agreed on the need to monitor the implementation of member states epidemic laws, and to ensure that those measures will be scrapped once the epidemic is over.

Hungarian Justice Minister Judit Varga reacted to Ms Jourova s statement on her social media page. 

Ms Varga confirmed that she and the vice-president had indeed discussed all the details of the legislation passed by the Hungarian National Assembly, and suggested that Ms Jurova could perhaps inform EPP President Donald Tusk and other members of the choir about her opinion. „It seems like my efforts were not useless”, she added. „If the Vice-President of the Commission already shares our opinion, than we can certainly expect those concerned about the rule of law in Hungary around the clock to stop the international fake news campaign, according to which the Hungarian lex-COVID paves the way for dictatorship!”, the justice minister wrote.