Finance Minister: Hungary does not accept migrant quotas being forced on member states
The European Union’s new asylum package would fine countries that refuse to accommodate migrants 20,000 euros per migrant.
The European Union’s new asylum package would fine countries that refuse to accommodate migrants 20,000 euros per migrant.
Minister Varga said the EU’s competitiveness was waning, so the Hungarian presidency would put an emphasis on reversing that trend.
The step is expected to leave 200 billion forints (EUR 513.3m) with taxpayers.
The Turkic Council and the Hungarian-Uzbek Business Council have special significance in the unprecedented intensive economic cooperation between Hungary and Uzbekistan.
Since the start of the migration crisis in 2015, Hungary has spent 700 billion forints (EUR 1.8bn) on border protection, while EU contributions have barely surpassed 1%.
Minister Varga said that while there was a war waging in a neighboring country and the Middle East, and the budget was under extraordinary pressure, pensioners could count on the government.
The IMF forecasts 3.3 percent growth for 2025, and only Malta, Romania and Poland are expected to grow at a faster clip of 3.5-4.0%.
Minister Varga said this year Hungary will take up the presidency of the European Union “for the second time amid challenging times”.
Chinese banks “have trust in the Hungarian economy”, the finance minister said, noting that several Chinese banks have selected Hungary as a base in recent years.
The two ministers agreed that building further infrastructure links between the two countries was necessary, with special regard to direct flights.
“The mayor has not paid taxes since last June … Budapest has rejected to pay 46 billion forints in solidarity tax until March,” Minister Varga said.
Minister Varga said the government was committed to reducing the budget deficit and the public debt with a view to ensuring sustainable growth.
Hungary’s economic output is now 5% above pre-pandemic levels, while the EU average is 3.5% higher than before the pandemic.