The goals set by the Hungarian government in June have been achieved, Regional Development Minister Tibor Navracsics announced on Tuesday in Budapest, after the ambassadors of the EU member states on Monday positively evaluated the Hungarian recovery plan, which enables the use of EU funds to aid economic recovery after the coronavirus epidemic, and recommended its official adoption by the European Union Council.
Regional Development Minister Tibor Navracsics said that the permanent representatives reached an agreement regarding the recovery plan.
At a press conference, the minister reminded that their goal was to reach an agreement with the European Commission on cohesion funds by December 31, in order for Hungary to avoid the loss of resources, and to approve the Hungarian recovery plan to the European Council.
All the goals we set for ourselves in June have been achieved, he added. He said that Monday's decision also means that Hungary - like the other member states - can now access EU funds. Within the framework of the Recovery and Resilience Building Facility (RRF), HUF 2,300 billion will be opened up for Hungary, he pointed out.
The negotiation strategy was obvious from the beginning: the Hungarian government is open to any situation where the possibility of compromise is visible. Thanks to this, an agreement was reached with the committee by the end of November, and it found the Hungarian recovery plan to be excellent, and it sees no further obstacles to the disbursement of cohesion funds. What will now take place in mid-December is the conclusion of this work and the signing of the agreement.
Thanks to this, the developments that can be financed from EU funds can start.
HUF 2,300 billion will be opened as part of the recovery fund, explained Tibor Navracsics. Of this, 70 percent supports developments that include renewable energy, while 30 percent supports the digital transition. In terms of operational programs, HUF 14,000 billion is available, of which HUF 4,000 billion has already been approved by the committee, he added. 9–10 thousand billion are available for other operational programs.
The global minimum tax does not mean a tax increase for Hungary
Minister of Regional Development Tibor Navracsics told HVG that the global minimum tax for Hungary also includes business tax, so this does not mean a tax increase for Hungary. Gergely Gulyás, the minister in charge of the Prime Minister's Office, also confirmed that the global minimum tax entails an increase in corporate tax.
As soon as there is EU money, the teachers' salary will be increased
Regarding the question about teachers' salaries: Gergely Gulyás said that as soon as EU money becomes available, the increase in teachers' salaries will be implemented. " If we can access this resource from the first of January, then this can be realized already then. We are working to increase teacher salaries, " he added.
When asked by ATV whether the series of negotiations ended with the victory of Viktor Orbán, Gergely Gulyás said, "it ended with the victory of the EU, we are also members of the EU". He added: " With normal compromises, an agreement can be reached - this was the government's position ".
We managed to find a form that does not oblige you to take out additional loans
Regarding the aid package intended for Ukraine, the minister in charge of the Prime Minister's Office explained: " There should be no further borrowing, this was the government's position. We managed to find a form that does not oblige you to take out additional loans. We will give help to Ukraine from the common budget ". The government's contribution was necessary so that the 18 billion euros would not go to an EU country.
Gergely Gulyás also said that teachers' salary increases depend on the arrival of EU funds.
The minister underlined that the question of whether the funds will arrive on the first of January or whether new conditions will be imposed is headed by the committee.
With a net salary of HUF 6 million, the Hungarian left tried to do everything possible against the salary increase for teachers
Gergely Gulyás from the Hungarian left said that with a net salary of HUF 6 million in the European Union, they will try to do everything possible to prevent teachers from receiving a salary increase.
Tibor Navracsics explained about the negotiations that those who really did not want the government to achieve its goal were tense. Hysterical voices were heard from the European Parliament from the beginning, he said.
All operational programs are in agreement
To RTL's question, Tibor Navracsics said that there is no specific date for signing the partnership agreement. Gergely Gulyás added that there is an agreement regarding all operational programs, the technical question is when they will be signed.
The question is whether there will be additional conditions affecting teachers' salaries, but this will become clear within days. Part of the wage increase will come from EU funds, and the other part from the Hungarian budget in stages over the next few years.
According to the plans, 25 new tenders will appear in the first quarter of the year
Regarding the super milestones, Tibor Navracsics said that the European Commission will publish them, and the fulfillment will be checked during communication. The minister is confident that the dialogue of the past period will continue in the future. According to the plans, 25 new tenders related to the restoration fund will appear in the first quarter of the year. A number of tenders are currently being financed, for the time being from budget sources.
In response to the RTL employee's question about the loan part of the recovery fund, Tibor Navracsics said that we have six months to decide on its inclusion. The government is preparing to take the current international economic situation into account when making its decision.
On the question of the expansion of NATO, according to which the government can solve the expansion of NATO by decree, Gergely Gulyás said: it cannot be solved by decree. Negotiations related to NATO expansion - which means ratification by the two countries - can start next year at the first parliamentary session, i.e. on February 20. To the question of whether it is possible for the parliament to vote on the accession of Finland to Sweden, the minister replied: the support of the governing parties seems to be a given.
"Thief called cop"
In response to the Pesti Srácok's question, Gergely Gulyás said about the serious corruption scandal affecting the European Parliament: let's consider it God's sense of humor that this matter has just become public. The minister in charge of the Prime Minister's Office put it this way: "a thief called a cop", and it can be seen that these threads can lead deep and wide-ranging to circles that enjoy serious influence on the left of the EP.
Regarding the difficult access to resources, Tibor Navracsics explained: the problem is not if the EU protects its own interests, but if the political and legal aspects are mixed up. If mass crimes are committed in a country in connection with EU funds - there have been examples of this since the 1950s - and this is dealt with by legal means, it is natural. But if these are replaced by political instruments, it is problematic, since the EP cannot become a political body.
Tibor Navracsics put it this way: the legitimacy and future of the entire process is decided by the extent to which the political and legal aspects are mixed.
In connection with the EU "unification", the minister responsible for the use of EU funds and regional development expressed it as follows: it may be raised whether the public procurement procedure required of Hungary is also enforced in the case of other states.
János Fiala, on behalf of the Kelj fel Jancsi program, asked about the corruption charges against our country. According to Tibor Navracsics, the Hungarian example is a good example of how agreements can be concluded even in relation to ideologically based disputes.
Reality is on Hungary's side
According to Gergely Gulyás, reality is on Hungary's side, so he always urged those who form an opinion about our country and the country's situation to get to know the reality. Corruption exists in all countries, but in Hungary, for example, it is nowhere near as large as it is portrayed in several cases, and in many Western countries this phenomenon causes much bigger problems than here.
Regarding the global minimum tax, Tibor Navracsics said that the principle problems had been overcome. It would have been harmful if the minimum tax had meant an increase in the tax burden, as it would have been at the expense of competitiveness. However, if there is no need to raise taxes, "then we don't have a problem with it," he added.
When asked what is the guarantee that the tax rate will not increase, Tibor Navracsics stated: "We are the guarantee", because a unanimous decision on the subject is required.
Source: hirado.hu / MTI
Photo: MTI/Tibor Illyés
