Commission Hübner meets Hungarian Prime Minister Bajnai and visits projects in South Great Plain Region and South Transdanubia

Source: European Commission (EC) i, published on Wednesday, June 10 2009.

IP/09/901

Brussels, 10 June 2009

Commission Hübner i meets Hungarian Prime Minister Bajnai i and visits projects in South Great Plain Region and South Transdanubia

Regional Policy Commissioner Hübner starts a two-day visit to Hungary tomorrow (11 June) which will give her the opportunity to see the impact of European Cohesion Policy investment in the country. After a meeting in Budapest with the new Hungarian Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai and other members of the government, she will visit EU-funded projects in the South Great Plain Region and South Transdanubia.

Ahead of her visit, Commissioner Hübner stated: “It is crucial that the increased economic development of Budapest is matched by regional growth across the country so that it can compete in the international arena. European Cohesion Policy provides an excellent tool to mobilise the full potential of regional centres and to derive maximum benefit from their assets.”

11 June - Budapest

The Commissioner will discuss the impact of the current crisis on the economy with Prime Minister Bajnai. Hungary is already making use of measures included in the European Economic Recovery Plan, in particular the temporary state aid framework to accelerate support for business. Commissioner Hübner will recommend maximising other possibilities such as the support available through the Cohesion Policy to boost green technologies and renewable energy in housing in order to generate jobs.

The Commissioner will also discuss the priorities for Hungary's EU Presidency in 2011 in a meeting with Gábor Iván, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Themes already under discussion include interest in developing an EU Strategy for the Danube Region, following the example of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region ( IP/09/893 ).

11 June - South Great Plain Region

In Szeged , Commissioner Hübner will attend the opening of the dual energy CT technology equipment project, led by GE healthcare in conjunction with the University of Szeged. The project aims to develop new medical software applications to help combat tumour diseases (EU contribution: €439.000 ). This showcase project underlines the priority given to r esearch & development (R&D) and innovation. Targeted on the seven regional growth areas, as defined by the national authorities, the Hungarian programme plans investment of €3.4 billion in these sectors in 2007-13. Commissioner Hübner will also hear about the Szeged software industry cluster which brings together small enterprises, multinational companies, universities, research institutes and NGOs . She will also have an opportunity to see the geothermal energy power plant in Kistelek, another illustration of EU support.

The South Great Plain Region will benefit from € 748 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in 2007-2013 for projects in the field of employment, tourism, transport infrastructure and support to enterprises (see MEMO/08/226 )

12 June -South Transdanubia Region

During her visit to Transdanubia, the Commissioner will be accompanied by István Varga, Minister for Economic and Development Policy. South Transnadubia has allocated over €189 million of its Cohesion Policy regional programme for 2007-2013 to integrated urban development. Within this investment, nearly €120 million will support the city of Pécs which has been selected as the European Cultural Capital in 2010. A new conference and concert centre, the Zsolnay Cultural Quarter, the “Street of Museums” and the Regional Library and Knowledge Centre are among the flagship projects supported by the Cohesion Policy ( total EU contribution: €124.8 million).

South Transdanubia will receive €705 million from the European Regional Development Fund (see MEMO/08/225 ), which will contribute to developing urban areas, strengthening tourism potential, improving public services and transport.

Note for editors

Hungary as a whole has been allocated almost €29 billion in 2007-2013. It will receive €12.6 billion from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), €8.6 billion from the Cohesion Fund, €3.6 billion from the European Social Fund (ESF), €3.8 billion from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and €386 million for territorial cooperation.

Snapshot of achievements : Almost 20 000 projects were co-financed by the Structural Funds in 2004-06. EU saw being supported from the Structural Funds in Hungary. Support was provided to 13 000 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, and nearly 22 000 new jobs were created . 570 km of railway was upgraded, 40 km of motorway constructed. As a result of the environment projects, over four million inhabitants gained access to improved solid waste collection services and two million inhabitants to improved waste water treatment.

For more information on Cohesion Policy in Hungary: http://www.nfu.hu

http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/atlas2007/hungary/