MEPs have claimed Hungary's new constitution is "in conflict with common European values of freedom and democracy", the Irish Times reports.

Expressing "serious concern", the European parliament in Strasbourg yesterday called on Hungary to amend the laws concerned and "comply with the recommendations, objectives and demands of the commission and the council of Europe".

The paper says that in January the commission gave Hungary one month to present proposals to amend or abolish three of its new constitutional laws which affect the independence of the central bank and the national data office, and lowered the mandatory retirement age of judges from 70 to 60 years old.