EC closes infringement procedure over Paks plant 

Budapest, November 17 (MTI) – The European Commission has closed the infringement procedure it had launched against Hungary over public procurement rules in connection with the upgrade of the Paks nuclear power plant, the government office chief said on Thursday.

János Lázár noted at his weekly press briefing that Thursday’s decision meant the commission neither disputes “Hungary’s right to enter into an agreement with Russia” on upgrading the plant nor the loan financing the project.

Lázár said those who had “said otherwise”, such as Dialogue Party MEP Benedek Jávor, had been dealt a “resounding defeat”.

Lázár said he believed it was realistic that the upgrade could begin in 2017-2018, adding that Hungary had undertaken to apply EU procurement norms on up to 55 percent of the investment value. Further, a study on the illegal state aid is about to be concluded and the government is expected to receive this documentation next week.

Jávor in response said that the commission’s “contentious” decision had not come as a surprise but was “bad news for the Hungarian taxpayer” and would entail further legal disputes. Based on a letter received from the commission in August, Javor said in a statement that the decision had been based on “the mistaken interpretation of law”.