The Hungarian government assesses Hungary’s economic growth more positively than the commission, Varga said, commenting on a recent projection from the commission which lowered Hungary’s projected growth rate to 2.1% for 2016.

However, the government and the EC see eye to eye on the fiscal and financial positions of the country, Varga said, adding that public debt had been declining and the budget deficit is below 3% and below the commission’s projections. He said he hoped the EU could be convinced that Hungary’s fostered work scheme is fit to effectively return people to the labour market.

The government will also continue its dual and vocational training schemes, he said. In 2010 Hungary had been unable to meet a single criterion for introducing the euro, but today it meets all criteria, Varga said. Dombrovskis said Hungary is on the right track and emphasised the importance of maintaining fiscal rigour.

He added that Hungary in the past three years had clocked “rather good” economic growth. This started declining this year but it is still above the EU average, he said. It is important that EU funding should not replace but supplement national spending, he added.

Republished with permission of Hungary Matters, MTI’s daily newsletter.

MTI photo: Kovács Tamás