STATE AUDIT OFFICE: HUNGARY WAS A NET CONTRIBUTOR TO EU BUDGET IN 2004

Last year Hungary paid more money into the budget of the European Union than it received – this has been confirmed by the latest report of the State Audit Office which says the EU balance of Hungary shows a deficit of HUF 27 billion.

The summary also notes that the problems have been caused by the lack of expertise and cooperation in the National Development Office responsible for the coordination of EU subsidies. In spite of the opinion of the Audit Office the Ministry of Finance sticks to its former standpoint that our balance with the European Union was positive in 2004, with a surplus of HUF 76 billion. The difference in calculation has been explained by the different methods of auditing. Experts claim the Ministry of Finance counts EU sources which have not been actually used. The Central Statistical Office has confirmed the calculations of the State Audit Office: in spite of the statements of government sources the state budget deficit reached 5.8 pc of the GDP in 2004.

Translated by Péter Szentmihályi Szabó