Compared to the currently ending EU budget cycle, more and increasingly efficient development projects could be realised between 2014 and 2020 in Hungary's Southern Great Plain region, announced Deputy Secretary of State for priority development programs Nándor Csepreghy, in Szeged on Monday.

In the next seven-year cycle, decisions related to regional development may be taken by political and economic operators who are aware of local requirements, the Deputy State Secretary said at a press conference prior to regional consultations on the operative programmes developed for the 2014-2020 budgetary period.

The Deputy State Secretary told the press that the regional development agencies will become county property, thus enabling the creation of a decentralised institutional system that allows an ever greater number of better quality development projects to be realised. In the current cycle, Hungary will be able to draw the total sum of allocations amounting to HUF 8,200 billion.

In the Southern Great Plain region, 10,500 development projects have been realised from a sum of HUF 1,300 billion, but it remains uncertain whether these resources have been used effectively enough, Mr. Csepreghy stressed. Between 2014 and 2020, development resources will amount to HUF 712 thousand per citizen, which ranks Hungary third among EU member states.

Further to a Government decision, 60% of resources will be dedicated to economic development instead of the current 24%, while the remaining 40% will be allocated to improving human and real infrastructure, the Deputy State Secretary pointed out.

Nándor Csepreghy also said that the Government would prepare the final partnership agreement further to consultations lasting until 15 December. This will be followed by the approval of operational programmes by Brussels, after which the call for applications is expected to be published in June 2014.

(Prime Minister’s Office)