Zsigmond Perényi, the state secretary in charge of EU development, said Hungary “has not received any additional funding” from the European Union for measures in connection with the novel coronavirus epidemic.
Perényi said press reports and “the opposition’s claims” about the allocation of HUF 2,000 billion (EUR 5.6bn) in extra funding are “false”. The seven-year EU budget figures have not changed since being set, which means no change in allocations in Hungary’s case either, he said.
The state secretary said EU rules allow for an advance payment of funding for a member state which must repay the portion of the funding it has not used. However, it has been decided that the advance allocation would not need to be paid back, which in this form qualifies as an interest-free loan, he said, adding that “this will certainly help other countries”.
Perényi concluded that the loan will however have to be “accounted for” when the EU is closing its seven-year budget period.
A call center set up for advice on the coronavirus can be reached on +36-80-277-455 and +36-80-277-456 or by email koronavirus@bm.gov.hu