The Hungarian government has described the approval by the European Commission of the funding of Paks II as "the greatest economic diplomacy achievement of the past 30 years".
János Lázár, the minister heading the prime minister’s office, said that all legal obstacles on the part of the EU have been removed as far as the project is concerned, and the physical preparations and the first phases of the construction works may begin in 2017 and 2018.
The minister added that the government had taken care of Hungary’s power needs and low electricity prices for a period of sixty years by virtue of the Paks atomic power station project.
The minister said that the government managed to put together a team which represented Hungary’s interests outstandingly well on one of the most important competition law issues of 2017. At the same time, the courage manifested by PM Orbán and the fact that the government does not confine itself to mere words, but implements the country’s plans and sees its decisions through have also greatly contributed to this success.
Lázár mentioned among the most important goals that the Paks atomic power station should remain in state ownership and the company should generate electricity as cheaply as possible.
He described the enlargement of the atomic power station as one of the most important guarantees of the reduction of household utility charges, and pointed out that while a Hungarian now pays 36-38 HUF for electricity per kilowatt, the Germans pay 90 HUF.
Austria has also indicated that they wish to take part in the licensing procedure, and others, too, may call the necessity of the project into question. Any such measure will, however, have no delaying effect. Hungary keeps the EU informed about the project on an ongoing basis, and is not expecting any initiatives or attacks that would affect the fate of the project on its merits, he added.