The commission was unavailable for immediate comment when contacted by MTI. Commenting on the decision, a spokesman for governing Fidesz said the “bureaucrats in Brussels” were again taking the sides of multinationals, instead of national interests. Péter Hoppál said Fidesz continued to back the ban that supports Hungarian SMEs.

The ban on building shopping centres over 300 square metres in size was introduced in 2012 and is set to expire at the end of 2014. The measures aimed to pave the way for a balanced structure of retail trade, the government said at the time of introduction.

Critics of the ban have said the government is using the idea of protecting small business to cover up favours granted to companies close to the governing Fidesz party. Seven exemptions from the plaza ban have been granted by a committee set up for the purpose of reviewing requests.

Source www.hungarymatters.hu

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Source of photo: ORIGO