Brussels to defuse nationalist tensions

"The European Commission wakes up," announcesPravda, hailing Brussels' u-turn on the Hungarian parliament's recent decision to provide passports for ethnic Hungarians living in neighbouring countries. The Slovak daily explains that in spite of outrage Bratislava, the Commission refused to become involved in the conflict, arguing that questions of nationality should be decided by member states. However, in response to pressure from a number of national governments, Commission President José Manuel Barroso has now "asked the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to discuss the measure with the Slovaks." Countries in the region "have expressed serious concern," because the affair has resurrected tensions over the Treaty of Trianon, which resulted in the dismantling of the Kingdom of Hungary after WWI. On 4 June, Slovak and Hungarian nationalists are planning to converge on Komárno to mark the 90th anniversary of the signature of the treaty. Pravdanotes that the presence of opposing factions in the ethnic Hungarian town just inside Slovakia's southern border will make Komárno "the capital of the Slovak-Hungarian conflict" for a day.