Csepreghy was interviewed after the Norwegian embassy in Budapest posted on its website the Norwegian cabinet’s response to a Hungarian government control office (Kehi) audit.

According to the document, the Norwegian government does not accept the findings of the Kehi audit and would only trust an independent auditor.

It says that through agreements with the European Union and the Hungarian government, Norway has committed itself to make funding available, but “due to unilateral breach of these agreements by the Hungarian Government, the funds to Hungary were suspended in May of this year”.

According to Norway, the Kehi audit of the NGO-fund is in breach of agreements governing the EEA-grants because “no funds from the Hungarian state budget are at stake”.

“As soon as the Hungarian government expresses commitment to resolve the open issues, including a satisfactory solution for the NGO fund, Norway is willing to resume discussions to find solutions within the frame of existing agreements,” it concluded.

Csepreghy told the paper that the Hungarian government’s aim is to ensure that funding reaches a wide range of civil society and it is used for civil purposes.

He welcomed that Norway agreed with the need for an audit and expressed hope that this would be carried out as soon as possible in order to resume dialogue, he said.

Source www.hungarymatters.hu

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