The British government would like to see a sound agreement on the next EU budget, however London’s maintains its position that spending should not increase more than the rate of inflation, said Enikő Győri Minister of State of the Foreign Ministry responsible for EU Affairs, on 25th October 2012 when she assessed her two days of negotiations in London.

Among others, Minister of State Győri held talks with David Lidington, the British Minister for Europe. After her talks, she stated that: “there is a very firm British position” according to which London wishes to freeze of the spending figure of the next budgetary period at its real value.

“It is difficult for Hungary to share this opinion; we think that the EU budget is driven by a different logic from that of national budgets.” – said Minister of State Győri.

She thought that both Great Britain and Hungary are working to consolidate their respective financial situation, because both economies are undergoing a different period. Hungary at the same time thinks that the cause of crisis management would be served better by a more generous, instead of a frozen or reduced EU budget.

“I think that we will not come to an agreement on the main figure, but Great Britain is a partner when it comes to deciding what this money should be spent on, we have been able to find common ground here and have agreed that cohesion funds should be spent on the least developed countries and regions.” – Minister of State Győri pointed out.

The Minister of State of the Foreign Ministry also revealed that during her talks in London she also raised the issue of the official British position on the free movement of people within the EU, which is part of the long term review that Great Britain is conducting on EU and Member State competences. 

Minister of State Győri said that her British partners reassured her that London was not preparing any imminent steps on this. The British government is also aware that Great Britain stands to benefit greatly from the trained Central-European workers willing to work. At the same time it also wishes to find a solution to the problems related to abuses of the social services system, said the Minister of State, adding that there was no question of Hungarians working legally in Great Britain having to “pack their belongings”.

(Prime Minister’s Office)