France summoned the Hungarian ambassador on Friday to express its objections to new legislation introduced in Hungary which Paris says has affected the work of French investors. The French foreign ministry said in a statement the changes had particularly hit companies involved in the meal voucher sector where French companies are heavily involved.
Hungary has said it plans to introduce vouchers to purchase food, a market dominated by French companies such as Sodexo and co-operative group Cheque Dejeuner. "It is up to the European Commission, the guardian of the treaties, to rule on the respect of the rules of the internal market," said the foreign ministry statement. "We also call on the Hungarian authorities to open a constructive dialogue with the companies concerned, in the respect of the rules and the spirit of friendship and European co-operation between France and Hungary."
France''s move could have broader implications for Hungary''s efforts to gain new financing to restore its ailing economy. Central Europe''s most indebted country, it said in November that it would seek a new financial backstop from the European Union and the IMF, but formal talks have not yet started due to a legal row with Brussels over a number of controversial pieces of legislation.
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