According to Minister of State for Government Communications András Giró-Szász, a new era has begun in the fiscal policy of the government and the agreement concluded with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) can be regarded as a symbolic step of it.

Regarding the timing of the EBRD agreement, he stressed that the Government of Hungary levied the bank tax in 2010 as a response to the financial crisis left behind by the previous government. It was clearly stated that the level of the bank tax would be decreased once the crises is solved, and the economy as well as the state of government debt is stabilized.

He added that the European and national conclusions drawn from the crisis ”have pushed the government towards” increasing public shares in the Hungarian banking system to 50% or above.

András Giró-Szász pointed out that the issue of foreign-currency borrowers - that is helping them manage their problems and saving them from the ”bad system” - has brought about a great and unavoidable economic and social problem. The management of this problem raised the idea of the establishment of a fair banking system. He emphasised that in the past four years the government has solved the problems in all these fields, thus this fiscal period can be declared as closed. This situation has allowed the government to open a new chapter that is based on financial and social stability established as a result of previous measures, and the agreement concluded with the EBRD can be regarded as an important and symbolic step of it.

Regarding the decisions made at the cabinet meeting on Wednesday, András Giró-Szász noted that among others, the proposal on the construction of the Veszprém city swimming pool has been approved by the government, and the Minister of National Development has been invited to prepare the tasks regarding the refurbishment of the Herend public road system.

(Prime Minister's Office)