On 23 April Prime Minister Viktor Orbán took part in a workshop at the European Policy Centre in Brussels where he spoke about the general political and economic situation in Europe, and Hungary’s goals within that.

Mr. Orbán mentioned the areas of discussion between the European Commission and Hungary: the system of data protection institutions, the salary of the Governor of the Hungarian National Bank and the retirement age of judges. He said that eventually these matters could easily come before the European Court of Justice.

However, the Prime Minister highlighted that many of the questions related to infringement procedures have now been agreed between the two parties. He said that infringement procedures are part of normal EU operations, and that hundreds of such procedures are now being pursued in the EU, with Hungary very far from the top of the list of those countries involved.

Mr. Orbán also spoke of the negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), in which Hungary is seeking a financial guarantee rather than a loan. EU/ IMF guarantees would reduce the costs to Hungary of debt financing, and delay in agreeing them is bad for the country. He said that the Hungarian government is prepared to come to a quick agreement on this question at a moment’s notice, and if it depended on Hungary’s decision alone, such an agreement would already be in place.

The Prime Minister repeated his assertion that Hungary was being unfairly treated and subject to double standards, as international organisations had not imposed preconditions to negotiations on other countries. Egypt, for example, made approaches at around the same time as Hungary, and that country has already received a positive response.

The Prime Minister expressed his optimism for the Central European region’s future, provided the necessary reforms can be implemented. The large-scale reforms currently being undertaken in Hungary make it ‘Europe’s laboratory’ in a sense, he said. He said that between 2004 and 2010 the country was not able to meet EU deficit targets, but this situation changed last year. In order to achieve this, the Cabinet had built its programme around three core goals: the fair sharing of burdens, strengthening of the economic system, and structural reforms.

He said that burden-sharing is one of the essential ingredients for success. The Prime Minister said that Hungarians accept the need for change. The Government received a mandate to manage the crisis in such a way that burdens do not fall solely on the public, and it will continue to fulfil this mandate.

The Prime Minister said that, according to the EU, some crisis taxes on large companies and banks must be withdrawn. The Government is looking for ways to retain them in a transparent and sustainable way which is acceptable to the EU. There are no plans for an internet tax.

He stated that it is clearly in Hungary’s interest that there is successful cooperation with the EU. He said that history has shown that it is especially difficult for Hungary to be successful when Europe faces difficulties. ‘We need a strong Europe, just as we declared in the Hungarian presidency of the EU last year. One of the central goals of our efforts over the last twenty years has been the creation of a strong centre-right that is supportive of the EU,’ he stated.

Mr. Orbán nevertheless favours the reform of EU institutions and procedures in the light of the ongoing crisis, and he said that protection of the euro is primarily the responsibility of those countries which are currently members of the eurozone.

An important role in the strengthening of the euro area’s stability is played by the so-called ‘Six-Pack’ of measures on fiscal discipline and cooperation, which was developed under the Hungarian presidency of the EU.

The Prime Minister said that Hungary’s most important short-term goal is that it should end the year with positive growth figures.

(kormany.hu)