By Tamas Csonka in Budapest The European Commission stepped up an infringement procedure against Hungary over legislation on the defence of national sovereignty, sending a ‘reasoned opinion’ on the matter on May 23 as a reply by Budapest did not alleviate its concerns. The EC launched the infringement procedure by sending a letter of formal notice in February, just three months after the approval of the legislation. Hungarian lawmakers approved the controversial act designed to protect national sovereignty and interests from external threats in late December. It gives the government new powers…