Audit Office: Hungary utilising EU funds ‘more regularly, efficiently’

Hungary observes the rules more closely and has become more efficient in using European Union funding than in the previous budgeting cycle between 2007-2013, representatives of the State Audit Office (ÁSZ) told a European Parliamentary delegation visiting Hungary, on Wednesday.

According to an ÁSZ statement, the delegation was provided with detailed information on how Hungary has used community funding, as well as on ÁSZ’s audits of agencies distributing those funds.

At a meeting with the delegation, ÁSZ head László Domokos said that

“the efficiency of tying EU funds [to projects] is gradually improving” and added that before 2013 “the process was slowed down by a lack of focused strategic planning and delays in payouts”.

He insisted that bidders in the previous cycle had focused on merely winning grants rather than concentrating on job creation or promoting the national economy.

The delegation of the European Parliament’s Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT) arrived in Hungary on Monday to probe specific EU-financed projects in the country.

Source: MTI