The Inter-ministerial Committee formed to deal with illegal land use agreements, or so-called "pocket contracts", will hold a stocktaking meeting at the end of the month, the Ministry of Rural Development stated on Wednesday.

The Inter-ministerial Committee, chaired by the Ministry of Rural Development's Parliamentary State Secretary Gyula Budai, will meet on 29 January to summarise the work completed during the past two years and the results achieved.

The Committee was convened to develop the effective use of the legal, public administration and administrative instruments designed to combat illegal land use contracts.

Within the framework of the new Land Act, the official authorisation system and the control provided by local land committees and the extremely strict formal regulations regarding the selling and buying of farmland, prevent the speculative trade of land. The Ministry stressed that these regulations are valid for both domestic and foreign citizens.

(Ministry of Rural Development)