Since the Government entered office, the most intensive anti-corruption series of measures over the last 20 years has been introduced in Hungary. As the latest step in this process, the Government has included within an action plan its commitments to acts within the international framework of the Open Government Partnership. It has also laid down regulations on the system to prevent corruption in the public sphere and for a reception enforcing interests.

The aim of the Open Government Partnership, the international initiative, which was launched in 2011, is to strengthen the commitment of participating States to more transparent operation of state organisations. International experience has shown that an increase in transparency in public administration provokes increased competitiveness in a given country’s economy and society, and an increase in citizens’ trust in public administration. In 2011, the Government decided that Hungary should join the initiative as part of its anti-corruption programme.

With adoption of the action plan, Hungary is further strengthening its commitment to Open Government, which is a direct consequence also of the Fundamental Law. The new Fundamental Law states that in Hungary there should be balanced, transparent, sustainable budgetary policy, and that everybody has the right to gain knowledge and access to information of public interest. Following agreement between the Ministry of Public Administration and Justice and civil society organisations, the action plan was compiled on the basis of recommendations from those organisations. The Government has committed itself to publishing budgetary data, and the improvement of intelligibility of such information. The Government is reviewing the law on public procurement and experience gained from the regulatory system related to national and local budgetary support. The action plan also includes the dissemination of knowledge on corruption prevention and integrity and so training for employees in state bodies has begun, together with review of academic literature and public information campaigns. Another part of the action plan is the introduction in the public sphere of a guidance system for integrity aimed at preventing corruption.

In March 2012, the Government adopted the anti-corruption programme for public administration, which was an important step in the fight against corruption. The main goal of the programme is to strengthen the State’s ability to resist corruption, and that public administration, state administration and government bodies should be able to defend themselves robustly against corruption. In the interest of this, last year, the Ministry of Public Administration and Justice announced that it was developing a simple consultation system that was understandable to all, and which provides the deadlines for individual measures, and the development of their specialist content. The Ministry is committed to the renewal of the legal environment for the fight against corruption and is thus continuing the consultation process with organisations in civil society.

(Ministry of Public Administration and Justice)