The State of Hungary and the European Investment Bank (EIB) concluded a loan contract of more than HUF 70bn (EUR 400 million) to be used by Hungary as own funds required for the co-financing of EU-funded projects, Minister of Finance Mihály Varga said. The contract signed by Minister of Finance Mihály Varga and EIB Vice-President Vazil Hudák aims to help the implementation of projects in the fields of, among others, transport infrastructure, drinking water supply and energy efficiency.
A national competitiveness strategy with the main points of growth is to be submitted to the Government soon, Minister of Finance Mihály Varga said at the latest meeting of the National Competitiveness Council.
Rising fiscal revenues, driven by solid economic performance, continue to underpin the stability of public finances, help reach social policy objectives as well as the financing of Hungarian and EU development projects. For the year 2018, the Government maintains that the 4 percent economic growth and 2.4 percent fiscal deficit targets will be met.
“The Hungarian Government will not back down a single step, and will protect Hungary’s security with all its strength”, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said in a statement to Hungarian news agency MTI on Monday in reaction to comments by the French Government’s Minister for European Affairs.
“We must finally cut the hysteria and overflowing emotions out of European-American trade disputes; the European Union made a major mistake when it incited hysteria in relations following the election of president Donald Trump”, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said.
The government contested the amendment of the Posted Workers Directive promulgated on 9 July 2018 with its action for annulment submitted to the Court of Justice of the European Union.
A defence minister-level NATO meeting was held in Brussels on 3 and 4 October. The Hungarian delegation travelling to Brussels for the two-day meeting was headed by Defence Minister Dr Tibor Benkő.
At the inauguration ceremony for the refurbished Buda Vigadó, headquarters of the House of Traditions, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said that a culture war – in fact “a fight for our own culture” – is not being fought in Hungary, but in Europe.
According to Chief Security Advisor to the Prime Minister György Bakondi, the left-wing liberal opposition is not likely to change the policy it has pursued since 2015, and to regard the security of the Hungarian people as the top priority.
“As a proportional response to Ukraine’s measure, Hungary is expelling a Ukrainian consul”, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó announced at a press conference in Budapest on Thursday.