At his hearing, Tamás Fellegi, Minister without portfolio, responsible for the preparation and conduct of negotiations to start next year with the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission said that Hungary and the international organisations will develop negotiation mandates for their delegations by mid-January.

At the joint meeting of the Economic and IT Commission as well as the Audit and Budget Commission of Parliament, the candidate stressed that an agreement on the form, size and conditions of the protective net to be provided by IMF and the European Union may be reached as a result of a negotiation process. Contacts have been established, and fundamental issues related to the content and time schedule may be clarified during the first informal discussions. However, effective consultations may start only after the mandates have been developed, in January 2012.

In the candidate’s opinion Hungary is politically and economically qualified for the conclusion of a precautionary and liquidity line agreement this time. He added that the National Bank of Hungary would be represented at the negotiation by a delegation led by Deputy Governor Ferenc Karvalits.

As the special committees supported Tamás Fellegi’s appointment, the candidate can start performing his duties as minister from 15 December 2011.

Once the positions are outlined, the minister plans to visit the various groups of MP’s in January 2012. At the planned meetings, he will inform first the governing party and then the opposition fractions of the progress made during the discussions, the first results and the expected time schedule.

(Government Spokesperson’s Office)