Anti-corruption bills aiming to end the EU’s conditionality procedure submitted
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The government late on Friday submitted a second package of bills to lawmakers related to the European Union’s conditionality procedure.
Government officials had said earlier that proposed changes to legislation would be submitted to parliament on Monday and Friday, in line with commitments made to the European Commission during talks to address concerns over the rule of law and their potential impact on the EU budget. The first package of bills was tabled on Monday.
The package submitted Friday, posted on the website of parliament, contains amendments to legislation regarding oversight of the use of EU funding. The proposed legislation would establish an Integrity Authority and an Anti-Corruption Task Force with the aim of reaching an agreement with the EC.
The Integrity Authority would be a state administrative body, autonomous of the government and other state organisations, headed by a chairman and two deputies, appointed by Hungary’s president on the recommendation of the head of the State Audit Office, for a period of six years. Appointees would not be allowed to serve a second term.
The Integrity Authority’s board would be required to report on the body’s activities once a year to lawmakers and submit the report to the EC, too.
The Integrity Authority would be required to inform other authorities, such as the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) or the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), if it suspects graft, conflict of interest, corruption or other legal violations or irregularities.