The Ministry for National Economy rejects the glaringly subjective conclusions of the “Open Budget Survey 2015”, a questionnaire-based study of fiscal practices. The drafting of the budget is conducted in theory and practice fully in compliance with given legal guidelines, and protocols are respected and strictly observed concerning the submitting, debating and adopting of the draft the budget.

The legal environment ensures the transparency of fiscal policy in Hungary. Parallel to submitting the draft budget to the National Assembly, the entire text and a general and detailed assessment of hundreds of pages are also published on the parliament’s website making these available for anyone. Budget-related macroeconomic projections are also public, and basic fiscal and economic policy principles can be accessed and studied through thematic framework documents (e.g.: Convergence Programme). During the entire budgetary process, the Fiscal Council and the State Audit Office publish their opinions several times on the draft budget, therefore control mechanisms also function properly.

The general government budget and the bill on implementing the budget lists state expenditures and revenues in a uniform, transparent manner with a reasonable amount of data. Monthly reports on the state of the general government budget are also public and these include written assessment along with data.

We are terribly sorry to see that while the achievements of the Hungarian economic policy are acknowledged by the European Union, the IMF, the OECD and major international economic think-tanks as well as market analysts, the Fiscal Responsibility Institute attempts to dispute fiscal transparency through a unique research method.

(Ministry for National Economy)