Hungarian government addresses OLAF report, migration, new EU laws at presser

Budapest, February 16 (MTI) – Irregularities surrounding the construction of metro line 4 amount to “the international left’s largest series of thefts”, government office chief János Lázár told a weekly press briefing on Thursday.

Corruption surrounding construction of the fourth metro line amounts to 406 billion forints (1,3 billion euros), he said, adding that the government and the city of Budapest will have 60 days to react to the report by Europe’s anti-fraud office OLAF after receiving the official Hungarian translation in March.

The development ministry will review nearly 60 contracts for irregularities, Lázár said, noting ongoing investigations already under way against unidentified perpetrators regarding 53 contracts. He noted that the government has frozen 20 billion forints of payments in connection with the metro project.

Meanwhile, commenting on the bill submitted to parliament on Tuesday concerning the entry of illegal migrants, Lázár said the government was ready for disputes with human rights organisations and the European Commission.

Also, Lázár noted a decision by the EU justice and home affairs council to unify visa regulations for third country citizens entering the EU. He said the Visegrad Group vigorously protested the decision. The right to decide who enters Hungary is the country’s prerogative, he said, noting that the decision would adversely affect non-resident Hungarians living beyond the country’s borders.