Hungary agrees with the EU’s ambitious climate targets, but we must make it clear that the attainment of these targets cannot result in a rise in energy and foodstuff prices, Gergely Gulyás, the Minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office stated on Thursday in Budapest.

At his press conference, the politician stressed that the attainment of complete carbon neutrality by 2050 would impose on Hungary almost unbearably heavy burdens, and therefore the EU must contribute to the costs.

The attainment of this goal would cost Hungary HUF 50,000 billion which means that each year a total expenditure of HUF 170,000 would fall on each and every citizen, he said. He added that Hungarian citizens are unable to pay such a high cost.

Mr Gulyás highlighted that we should also make it clear that without nuclear energy the goal of carbon neutrality is not attainable, and the principle that those who cause pollution should pay should be laid down as well.

He said the decisions to be adopted at the summit beginning today will be decisive also in the long run as the new President of the Commission has taken forward-looking initiatives in respect of climate affairs.

No one disputes that today the climate issue is one of the most important issues in Europe and in the world, and the EU and Member States of the EU must do everything they can to make the continent and the world sustainable economically, environmentally and demographically, he said.

He also highlighted that Hungary agrees with the goals undertaken by the EU for the period up to 2030, is doing well pro rata in meeting the relevant expectations, and the percentage of carbon-neutral electricity will be 90 per cent by 2030.

He pointed out that it is hardly reasonable to define new targets for 2050 when there are countries which are not meeting even the present expectations.

The Minister said the Mátra Power Station is important for national security reasons because it is able to operate using lignite, and this is the only power station that is capable of generating electricity entirely from domestic resources.

There is no room for double standards in the way the procedure under Article 7 is being conducted against Hungary, the Minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office pointed out.

The Minister found it objectionable that according to leaked press reports, the Hungarian government was against making the hearing public. By contrast, the government has always had a vested interest in the fullest possible publicity, he stated.

He recalled that after the first hearing they had been informed via Twitter that the minutes of the hearing had been made public after the secretariat general had released them to a private individual, a visiting professor of the CEU who had then released them to the public domain. At the time, they objected to the procedure because in the case of documents of this nature there is a consultation phase during which the Member State concerned is free to respond; however, the secretariat general did not even wait until the end of that period, he said, adding that even the Finnish Presidency of the EU indicated that they were not aware of this.

Mr Gulyás stressed that, in light of these circumstances, taking the Hungarian government to task over the fact that one of its ministers of state reports on the hearing by posting his own opinions on Twitter is another manifestation of double standards – which are now customarily used against Hungary –, and also stands in violation of loyal cooperation among EU Member States.

He said the government continues to remain open to cooperation, but a decision must be made regarding the forms of the procedures; a decision must be made as to whether a hearing is open or in camera.

In answer to a question, he said the Minister of State for International Communication and Relations, too, is entitled to freedom of speech, “he evidently did not attend the hearing as a private individual”.

He said the new European Commission conveys the opportunity of a new beginning, but one can observe at these hearings that the representatives of some Member States were quoting from documents compiled by various organisations sponsored by George Soros. If these opinions were excluded from the debate, there would hardly be any counter-argument against the Hungarian position.

The Minister said they still fail to see what legal sense lies behind the procedure; there is a witch-hunt under way against Hungary and Poland, contrary to the EU Treaties. Some of the Member States believe for political reasons that it is justified to take action against Hungary, but when they ask their questions it is evident that they do so without even minimal preparation, he underlined.

He observed that the current state of the EU’s enlargement is a failure of the whole of Europe; the EU must offer the countries concerned genuine prospects.

In response to news reports that the aircraft of the Defence Forces flew to remote destinations, the Minister said they had travelled to different events by plane, for instance, to Dubai to attend talks about cyber cooperation and to the United States for a weapons exposition.

In answer to a question, he pointed out that anti-Semitism is a much more serious problem in Western Europe than in our region, and it is therefore justified if politicians in Western Europe are tackling this issue. The flawed immigration policy is another reason why the countries of Western Europe are facing problems which they did not experience in the past, he summarised his view.

The harassment case involving theatrical director Péter Gothár cannot be left without consequences, the Minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office stated, speaking about the legislative amendment concerning cultural issues passed in Parliament the day before.

At the same time, Mr Gulyás said it is highly objectionable that the director of the theatre who covered up the Gothár scandal for a year “can go unpunished”.

Commenting on the legislative amendment concerning cultural issues, he said there can be no intervention in the artistic freedom of theatres.

If, however, a theatre operated by a municipality wants to receive significant public funding from the central budget, the state must enter into a contract with the operator concerned, the Minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office said, taking the view that this is also in the best interests of theatres because long-term funding can be best guaranteed in this arrangement.

He highlighted that the adopted amendment did not affect the National Cultural Fund. In his view, the National Cultural Fund works well fundamentally, there is no need for profound changes. It is, however, a reasonable and justified question whether it is a good solution that different organisations are required to apply for funds via three, four or five different state allocations.

He also observed that the bill presented to Parliament “did not contain many of the items of the alleged ministry document” leaked by the left-liberal media before its submission to Parliament, and due to which even a demonstration was held.

In answer to a question, Mr Gulyás said once an agreement is concluded between a municipality and the state, it could also extend to the appointment of the director of the theatre, but “this does not mean a right of veto”.

In response to rumours that there may have been harassment cases also in Újszínház, he said all cases of this nature must be thoroughly investigated; however, in the Gothár case, they can state such a clear opinion because there an admission was made.

Mr Gulyás said in answer to a question concerning the possible items on the agenda of the meeting of the Council of Metropolitan Public Procurements due to be held on Thursday that the government would like to cooperate, not fight with Budapest’s leadership. Therefore, he is not expecting heated debates in the council.

At the same time, he would like the capital’s leadership to make its position clear on some issues. These include whether they support the construction of a superhospital in South Buda, and whether there is “a ban on the construction of hospitals” in Budapest or not. In his view, it is difficult to find a better location for the superhospital than the junction of the M1 and M7 motorways.

On the matter of the renovation of the Metropolitan Circus, they are also awaiting Budapest’s position, he added.

In answer to a question regarding the construction of a biodome in the zoo, he said, as far as he knew, the necessary funding for the purposes of the project was available. Earlier, the government adopted two decisions in this case: once about a grant of HUF 23 billion, and later about a second grant worth HUF 16 to 17 billion.

Regarding the new Danube bridge planned to be built in South Buda, he said if the metropolitan leadership believes there is a more convenient place for the bridge somewhere else, that should be discussed. However, in his view, based on traffic data the place previously designated for the bridge is convenient.

The Minister said in response to the recall of the executives of companies run by the Metropolitan Municipality that “there is a process of cleansing under way”, but it is for the capital’s leadership to decide, at the end of the day, whom they wish to appoint as the heads of their companies.

He also said either due to a shortage of leadership material, or due to the extreme influence of “forces from the past”, the capital “procured its experts from the waxworks museum of old warriors who destroyed and bankrupted the country” between 2002 and 2010.

In the context of the legislative amendment regarding social security, he drew attention to the fact that in the first nine months of the year some 75,000 ineligible persons attempted to use state health care services.

Regarding the settlement of the debts of hospitals, the head of the Prime Minister’s Office said “decisions on this matter will be made before the end of this year”.

Mr Gulyás confirmed that, due to a technical error during the parliamentary vote on the proposal regarding, among others, the pay rise of judges, Parliament will have to conduct one more sitting this year.

In answer to a question, he highlighted that the government has asked the Justice Minister to review the law on civil procedures in order to simplify the filing of petitions.

In the context of mandatory school attendance from the age of six, he said, in justified circumstances, the Education Office will continue to authorise deferment. In his view, the office will assess applications generously and swiftly.

The Minister said in answer to a question about a recent stabbing in a school in Győr that they sympathise with the teacher concerned. The incident occurred in one of the best vocational training institutions, there was no precedent, and it was wholly unexpected. At the same time, the state must look into what it can do in the interest of prevention – the possibility of setting up school police units also emerged –, and they will then take the necessary steps, he stated.

 

 

 

(MTI)