The Prime Minister’s Office will be turned into a ministry to be in charge of governmental coordination, as well as of the distribution of EU funds.

Péter Szijjártó, foreign trade and foreign affairs state secretary at the PM’s Office, said that Hungary’s foreign policy should be centered around the foreign economy, to help the country benefit from changes in the global economy and global politics.

An integrated foreign economy and policy ministry will be set up to “successfully represent Hungarian interests in a new world order”, Szijjártó said. Szijjártó said the new structure would facilitate that one third of Hungary’s total exports is sold outside the European Union by 2018, as well as increasing Hungary’s agricultural and food exports by an annual 10%.

Socialist lawmaker Tamás Harangozó, however, criticised the new structure and said that it only served to ensure unlimited political and economic power to ruling Fidesz.

Harangozó insisted that the minister heading the PM’s Office would exercise “manual control” over all personnel decisions in state administration, and have disposal rights over “thousands of billions” in European Union funds.

Source www.hungarymatters.hu

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