Hungary’s government is committed to reaching a favourable agreement on credit from the International Monetary Fund and the European Union, shifting the focus from austerity measures to growth, government spokesman Andras Giro-Szasz said on public television on Monday.
The government does not want to sign an agreement similar to the one Hungary signed with the IMF in 2008, Mr Giro-Szasz said on M1.
He said there were two documents related to the precautionary financial credit line Hungary is seeking: one which was “snatched up by the papers” left in Budapest during the course of the IMF negotiations and another containing the European Commission’s conditions, expectations and thoughts.
The European Commission and the International Monetary Fund on Friday confirmed they left in Hungary a document containing actions the country could take, but said some reports on the document contain “inaccuracies”.
Mr Giro-Szasz said the documents establish, in addition to other things, that Hungary is eligible for a precautionary credit line base on macroeconomic conditions. This credit line would shield Hungary from the negative effects of a downturn in Europe, he added.
Nobody disputes that the elimination of the bank levy and financial transactions duty, that is, of burdens placed on banks, is among the IMF’s and EU’s conditions, as is the introduction of such austerity measures that were asked of the Socialist government in 2008, he said.
