In the future, the Hungarian authorities will not allow the importation of sewage sludge from abroad, the Minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office said at a press conference held on Thursday in Budapest. Gergely Gulyás also said the 2020 budget will serve security, the future and growth.

The Minister said the Hungarian government is on the side of environmental protection, and does not want “anyone else’s dirty washing”. Therefore, they decided that Hungarian sewage sludge is more than enough for Hungarian arable land, and there is no need for the importation of sewage sludge from abroad.

He added that they will start a review of the licences issued so far.

According to the Minister’s information, due to the fundamental EU principle relating to the free movement of goods, there is no scope for a blanket ban; however, upon the issuance of the relevant licences, the Hungarian authorities can set conditions which make the importation of sewage sludge effectively impossible.

He said in explanation that sewage sludge can have a harmful effect on the environment that outweighs the benefits, and additionally it carries an odour that Hungarian electors do not necessarily want to tolerate.

He said in answer to a question that the authorities are investigating on an ongoing basis whether the importation of sewage sludge to date has complied with the licences.

Regarding the budget adopted by Parliament last week, Mr Gulyás said next year the country will spend HUF 224 billion more on families, HUF 184 billion more on health care, HUF 136 billion more on pensions, HUF 60 billion more on education, and HUF 174 billion more on security.

He added that the 2020 budget – of which the economy protection and family protection action plans also form a part – contains the most stringent deficit figure since the change of regime. Additionally, they expect stable growth, and a four per cent growth is a realistic target. In answer to a question, he added that next year, in the case of a real wage increase above six per cent, the social contribution tax could be cut by another two per cent, and if there is any leftover from the budget reserves, they will use it for the vitalisation of the economy.

According to his evaluation, the amendments proposed by the Left in conjunction with the budget would have increased, among others, the rate of the personal income tax, and would have collected HUF 250 billion from a carbon tax. The budget of tax reductions is thanks to the government-party majority, he laid down.

Mr Gulyás took the view that regarding the attainment of the 2030 climate targets, Hungary is one of the best-performing countries in the EU. By 2030, 90 per cent of the Hungarian economy will be emission-free, he stressed.

We have no objections to setting climate targets for 2050, but before we do see we need studies, action plans and budgetary plans on the part of the EU, and the EU’s next budget, too, will have to be adjusted to these, he said.

He said the enormous increases in household utility charges that Germany experienced after the removal of nuclear energy from its energy mix would result in a loss of political stability in Central Europe if such measures were introduced without appropriate economic calculations.

Up to the middle of the month, 15 July, 2,400 persons applied for baby expecting support, the Minister reported. By his account, 5,700 applications were submitted for the car purchase grants of large families, while the cancellation of mortgage debts was requested by 703 persons up to 10 July.

Mr Gulyás said there is steady interest in the programmes that started on 1 July.

Regarding the leaked sound recordings involving the Karcag police chief, he said if what is on the sound recordings is true, it amounts to an issue under criminal law; no one is above the law.

In answer to the question as to why they amended the law related to criminal organisations now, the Minister said they did so because the Ministry of Justice submitted a proposal to that effect now.

The Minister said the Opera will reopen, following its refurbishment, in 2021, while regarding the House of Fates he said there is no change; they will only open it if there is peace, harmony and agreement on the issue.

In answer to another question regarding the date for the commencement of the construction of the port in Trieste, Mr Gulyás said, according to his information, construction works will begin within a year to eighteen months.

There was a question about whether the government is planning to tighten the rules of the Penal Code concerning conditional release. According to Mr Gulyás, in the case of the Olaszliszka incident or the murder of Marian Cozma, the rules of the former Penal Code govern; however, the sentencing terms have not changed in the new Penal Code, while there may have been changes in the procedural rules of conditional release. It is shocking that those who committed such bestial crimes 10 to 13 years ago are now free to leave prison, he said.

In answer to a question, he also laid down that the government must help to ensure that in every hospital there are operating theatres which can also be used at times when the temperature rises above 30 degrees Celsius.

(Prime Minister's Office/MTI)