Tasking a company that is linked to a party leader is “unacceptable” since this violates the principle of political neutrality, the ruling alliance’s MEPs said, vowing to take every opportunity to reveal the details of the contract and to protect Hungarian interests in the planning and execution of development programmes.

They asked the Commission for the reason and timing of the decision to outsource the preparation of studies on development policy programmes, formerly prepared independently by the EU, as well as the value of the contract.

The criteria for picking the consortium led by Altus, which has four employees, was also part of their query.

Additionally, they asked the EC whether the decision makers were aware of Altus’s party political links and its “dubious dealings in the past”.

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MTI photo: Mészáros János