Transparency International Hungary conference hold in Budapest

Budapest, December 9 (MTI) – Hungary’s new public procurement law, one of Europe’s strictest legislations, is instrumental in fighting graft, a senior official of the prime minister’s office told a conference organised by Transparency International Hungary on Wednesday.

The new law provides for a much broader scope of transparency and defines a minimum number of applicants required in certain areas of public procurement procedures, Eszter Vitalyos, state secretary in charge of EU development projects, said.

The legislation also requires applicants to provide a broader scope of data, she said.

US Ambassador Colleen Bell said the role of dedicated and vigilant citizens as well as investigative journalists is essential in eliminating deep-rooted problems like corruption. She said voters must be committed to reminding their government of its responsibilities.

The ambassador said business relations between the US and Hungary were “sound”, adding, however, that the US business community often experiences a sense corruption in Hungary. She said US businesses should not have to compete with the relatives of the country’s decision-makers.