Index – Home – Tibor Navracsics: We are prepared for the fact that Hungary’s commitments will be checked by Brussels
Tibor Navracsics had the last meeting with Elisa Ferreira, the commissioner responsible for cohesion and reforms at the European Commission. The minister responsible for new resources and regional development said this on ATV’s Ejenes Beszéd program. He highlighted: the operative program has already been sent to Brussels, which is now being investigated by the Directorate General, who promised to give an answer by September 22.
We can move on from here, I said at my ministerial hearing in June that I would like these agreements to be signed by the end of the year, I think we are doing well now
he said.
János Lázár responded to the statement made by Tranzit that we did not receive the sources because Tibor Navracsics had to negotiate with scoundrels, not gentlemen. He responded that this statement was a poetic exaggeration at a lighter summer festival.
No one in the European Commission asked about this, because they don’t usually deal with the funny, joking, or possibly sarcastic statements made by the politicians of some member countries, similar things often happen. The European Commission should not deal with political opinions, but with facts
he explained.
According to him, the stalling of EU funds was caused by a lack of trust resulting from a lack of intensive communication. In recent years, communication between the European Union and the Hungarian government has become one-channel and increasingly radical. “This was restarted in June, the result of which is that we will soon be able to finalize the operative programs in a short period of time, we are also working on finalizing the reconstruction plan, and I am also confident that we will also achieve further progress in the rule of law procedure,” explained Tibor Navracsics.
They agreed on a schedule with the European Commission, one part of which is the establishment of an independent anti-corruption authority and working group.
“Reducing the ratio of single-stage public procurement procedures, a monitoringsystem and transparency are expected to be strengthened according to the agreement,” he said, adding that the minister set a deadline for their fulfillment, but did not reveal any further details.
The independence of the anti-corruption working group is guaranteed by open tenders, and the appointment of internationally recognized experts can also be negotiated with Brussels.
This is not unprecedented, such an authority already exists in Italy and Slovenia
he added. Regarding the report on the leaked withdrawals, the minister said that he did not have such a document. According to this, they do not want to settle the matter, but to bring it before the European Council, which may result in the withdrawal of funds, but they leave it to Hungary to eliminate corruption, which can be postponed for one, but at most, 3 months.
To this, Tibor Navracsics responds that in reality there are certain expectations that must be completed according to the schedule. We want to avoid something similar to the dispute between Poland and the European Commission. “I expect that, in the case of Hungary, the undertakings will be inspected, and I am confident that the public procurement integrity authority will be appointed towards the end of November, which will lead to the end of the rule of law procedure, and with the restored level of trust, an agreement can be reached,” he concluded.
(Cover photo: Tibor Navracsics. Photo: Tamás Kaszás/Index)