MIDDAY BRIEF, IN BRIEF

Today at Commission, Orbán (for a change)

The Commission is launching an infringement procedure against Hungary’s controversial education bill.

European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis isn’t the most outspoken commissioner, but he refused to dodge any bullets when giving this week’s college of commissioners’ meeting readout.

The main focus of that meeting was Hungary.

Dombrovskis said Frans Timmermans, the first vice president, would be attending a European Parliament debate featuring Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán that would center on a higher education bill targeting the Central European University. He added that the Commission has sent “a formal letter” to the Hungarian government arguing that the move does not comply with EU law.

He added that the Commission would continue “the political dialogue with Hungarian authorities,” but the tone would likely not be very pleasant.

As well as this formal letter, the Commission vice president also said the Berlaymont had a response to Orbán’s national consultation, dubbed “Stop Brussels!” which asks citizens to identify EU rules that they don’t like. That response will be published in time for Orbán’s visit to the European Parliament.

Also in the meeting, there was the unveiling of the long-awaited social policy package (here’s why it matters), and a discussion on the situation in Turkey.

Dombrovskis said a meeting between Commission officials and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan would be announced “in due time.”

Asked by reporters if commissioners should call to freeze or even end EU accession talks with Ankara, Dombrovskis ruled out providing such guidance to EU foreign ministers, saying it was up to Turkey “to clarify its intentions” on whether it wants to join the EU.