No independent rail regulator, Hungary referred to EU court

Brussels – Hungary’s train traffic management is not independent, and the European Commission is taking the Budapest government to the EU Court of Justice. In May’s infringement package, the EU executive sees the non-existence of a Transport Regulatory Authority acting on its own initiative, as set by the Single European Railway Area Directive. On the contrary, such an Authority exists as a Ministry of Construction and Transport department, and thus is controlled by the government. For this, Hungary was put on notice in July 2021 and called to order a second time in November 2023. Given the persistence of the situation, the case now ends up in court.

Hungary is subject to sanctions for failing to uphold the rule of law, a reason that started the procedure that can lead to the suspension of voting rights in the EU Council. In particular, the EU member country has been accused of having a non-independent judiciary. Not just a problem for judges, it seems.