The finance minister said the Tiszántúl Diocese of the Reformed Church has spent a total of 50 billion forints (EUR 121m) on church renovation projects over the past twelve years.
Minister Varga said the European Commission’s recent positive assessment of Hungary’s recovery plan “after a year and a half” was a “significant step forward”.
The finance minister said high energy prices are tipping all European economies towards recession.
Mihály Varga said Hungary’s economy and its players must prepare to perform in an increasingly difficult international environment.
The budget posted a surplus of over 100 billion forints (EUR 248m) in October, the third largest October surplus in the past 20 years.
Hungary is ready to aid Ukraine but will not support further loans taken out jointly by European Union member states.
Minister Varga said all South Korean investments help Hungary evade the economic recession emerging on the back of the sanctions-fuelled crisis.
Cabinet measures to achieve this aim include capping the price of certain food products and petrol, freezing interest rates until the end of the year and introducing a 350 billion forints (EUR 830m) support scheme for SMEs.
Mihály Varga said measures taken to maintain stability and balance last year should be continued.
The finance minister said the European Union’s sanctions policy has not come up to expectations.
The finance minister said Hungary has so far provided over HUF 28 billion (EUR 70.5m) worth of aid to Ukraine and has taken in more than 900,000 refugees.
During the working lunch, the ministers touched on the challenges facing the European Union and the priorities of the current Czech presidency.
KSH data showed that all branches of the national economy contributed to headline growth, with the exception of the farm sector.