It has been ascertained again that in recent months the domestic and Brussels Left have accused the Hungarian government without foundation, purely on political grounds as today the government will submit the bill which calls on Parliament to terminate the state of danger. With the passage of the law, the state of danger will be lifted in Hungary much earlier than in a number of European countries, as expected on 20 June, Justice Minister Judit Varga said on Tuesday, after the video conference of the General Affairs Council of the Council of the European Union.

After the event, the Justice Minister told the Hungarian news agency MTI that the main topics of today’s video conference included the relaxing of the measures introduced due to the fight against the coronavirus, the multiannual financial framework (MFF) for the period between 2021 and 2027, and financial incentives to help the EU economy get back on its feet. Ms. Varga stressed that Hungary had successfully concluded the first phase of the fight against the coronavirus which had been made possible by the fact that, thanks to the special legal order, the Hungarian government had been able to make swift and effective decisions to contain the epidemic.

Ms. Varga also recalled that in the past few weeks an unprecedented disinformation campaign had been conducted against Hungary both locally and on the international scene in connection with the COVID legislation and the declaration of a state of danger. “This is not the first time that the Hungarian government has been accused completely without foundation, but the same as many times before, the misleading information spread about us has proved to be evidently false,” Ms. Varga pointed out. The bill which is aimed at the revocation of the special legal order will be submitted to Parliament today. Now, it is becoming evident to everyone that the measures adopted during the state of danger were not only necessary, proportionate and effective, but also temporary, the Minister stressed.

Ms. Varga also highlighted that in the second phase of the containment effort and the restarting of the European economy, restoring the appropriate functioning of the single market is essential, in which a development programme in industry, transport and the energy sector focusing on promoting the competitiveness of Central Europe could act as a catalyst.

Regarding the European Commission’s proposal package relating to the boosting of the economy and the next seven-year EU budget to be announced tomorrow, Ms. Varga pointed out that the economic impacts of the coronavirus epidemic were affecting every Member State; however, the countries most affected by the health crisis are not the poorest. “Therefore, in the context of the new economy boosting package, it is a primary Hungarian consideration that a successful containment effort cannot be penalised with the reallocation of funds. The economic integration of less advanced countries continues to remain a priority, and therefore we insist on the preservation of cohesion funds,” Ms. Varga stressed. The Justice Minister further highlighted that the proposed financial instruments would have to be made available to all Member States, and the criteria relating to the distribution of funds must reflect the state of advancement of each Member State, the rate of the decline in economic growth and a geographical balance.

(Ministry of Justice/MTI)