The amount of cohesion funds disbursed to Hungary has increased significantly in the past two years. According to the European Commission’s latest data, the Orbán Government was able to draw EUR 5.1 billion from the available funds in less than two years, by 1 April 2012.

Based on the European Commission’s latest quarterly data, the Orbán Government was able to draw EUR 5.1 billion from the available funds in less than two years, by 1 April 2012. At the same time, Hungary was only able to avail itself of funds of the amount of EUR 3.8 billion between 2007 and 1 April 2010; two thirds of these, EUR 2.4 billion, were advances transferred by the European Commission, regardless of the performance of the previous governments.

Christian democrat politician László Surján highlighted in this context, “If we disregard the advances transferred by the Commission, the Gyurcsány and Bajnai governments were only able to draw some 5.5% of the funds available between 2007 and 2013, HUF 1.4 billion, through efforts of their own. Consequently, we wasted effectively one third of the aid period without launching the necessary development programmes. By contrast, the Orbán Government has drawn 20% of the funds allocated for a period of seven years by significantly accelerating developments.”

“We sincerely hope that the trend of improvement will continue and we shall be able to make up for the irresponsible delay caused by the previous socialist governments as a result of their mistaken development policy. This is a testing task that requires enormous efforts”, László Surján, Vice-President of the European Parliament said.

„Many on the left-liberal side forget that, during the reign of the socialist governments, Gordon Bajnai was responsible for the distribution and allocation of EU aid, first in the capacity of government commissioner and later as minister. Consequently, he is responsible primarily for the disastrous disbursement rates between 2007 and 2010”, the people’s party politician recalled.

The period of nine years we have at our disposal for drawing on EU funds made available between 2007 and 2013 will expire at the end of 2015. Consequently, Hungary has less than four years left to make up for the omissions of the Gyurcsány and Bajnai governments. Based on the Orbán Government’s performance in 2010-2011, we have every chance of succeeding.

(László Surján’s press release )

(László Surján’s press release)