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Hungary will increase contribution to EU budget following Brexit

János Lázár said that in order for the bloc to succeed, member states will have to contribute more to the budget. “We are convinced that you can’t have more Europe from less money,” he said

Hungary has said that it will increase its contribution to the European Union’s budget to 1.2 percent of its gross national income for the next funding cycle, as Brexit will place heavier burdens on fewer member states.

János Lázár, the minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office, told a conference in Brussels that after the UK’s exit, the EU will be left without one of its most important members to take on the challenges it faces.

He said that in order for the bloc to succeed, member states will have to contribute more to the budget. “We are convinced that you can’t have more Europe from less money,” Lázár said.

The minister also said he was expecting the European Commission to draft an “offensive, bold and proactive budget” for the 2020-2027 funding cycle, arguing that the current budget had been a “defensive” one drawn up in response to a crisis.

Lázár added that the EU needed to boost its security and competitiveness in order to get stronger. The budget needs to be made simpler and more transparent, and the rebates that had been negotiated by the UK should be scrapped.

The minister said that even net contributors had benefitted from EU cohesion funds because they had turned out to be profitable investments. Lazar added that the government wants Hungary to also become a net contributor “as soon as possible”.