Hungary - Strengthening of the institutional and administrative capacities

Short-term priorities:

• Strengthening the relevant phytosanitary and veterinary administrations, particularly as regards infrastructures at external borders;
• Strengthening environmental institutions, customs policy, internal financial control and regional development.

Assessment (October 1999)

These priorities have been partially implemented.

The only progress noted in the field of veterinary and phytosanitary controls is in computerisation. To meet environmental concerns, Hungary has reorganised its regional inspection services and drawn up plans to strengthen necessary institutional capacity, including a detailed programme for transposing the directive on the integrated prevention and reduction of pollution.

A new institution responsible for chemical safety and a database on waste-water and soil pollution have been set up. The Hungarian customs computer system has been improved and personnel have been trained. Measures have been adopted to strengthen financial control and undertake follow-up measures. An agency and a national fund have been set up to manage the European Union's financial aid. Hungary must continue its efforts to set up regional control units, to consolidate the control units set up in responsible ministries and to clarify the division of tasks between the responsible ministries, local governments, the government's control office and the public treasury in the field of ex-ante controls and financial monitoring.

Hungary has not done enough to implement the short-term regional development priority set out in the partnership for accession. The organisations responsible for programming and control are still understaffed and underfunded. Hungary must step up its budgetary efforts to consolidate local government bodies in order to achieve a measure of political and budgetary decentralisation.

Assessment (November 2000)

The administrative capacities for programming, implementing and monitoring assistance from the EU have been improved. Provisions have been introduced to comply with the EU requirements regarding the pre-accession structural instruments. Improvements have been made to implementation of Phare.

The necessary internal and external financial control bodies have been set up, but they require further strengthening to ensure that the audit results are properly followed up. For example, an anti-money laundering coordination body has been set up.

Assessment (November 2001)

No progress has been made in this area.

Assessment (October 2002)

These priorities have not been assessed. The section on the Partnership for accession in the 2002 report focuses on issues which require more work in order to prepare Hungary for accession.

Assessment (November 2003)

Please refer to the fact sheets on the adoption of the Community acquis.

Medium-term priorities:

• Development of the anti-fraud unit and the National Audit Office;
• Improving the functioning of the judicial system;
• Training the legal profession in Community law and its application;
• Strengthening the relevant justice and home affairs institutions (providing enough members of staff who are suitably trained, in particular in the police force, at border posts, in ministries and courts);
• Reform of customs and tax administrations to guarantee the preparation and application of the acquis;
• Strengthening the food inspection administration;
• Strengthening the authority responsible for nuclear safety.

Assessment (October 1999)

Hungary has further consolidated the strategic framework governing financial control, making it possible to define more closely the scope of financial audits and the division of tasks between the different authorities responsible for controls. Furthermore, an integrated internal control policy has been adopted.

In the legal sector, special training programmes and courses on Community law have been set up for magistrates. Progress has been made in the fields of justice and home affairs, in particular in strengthening institutions responsible for the fight against organised crime and corruption. Border guards have been given supplementary investigative powers, including in the fight against organised crime.

Assessment (November 2000)

No progress has been made on this priority.

Assessment (November 2001)

Carrying out reforms in public administration is essential for the government. Salary structures were amended, which should improve the situation of civil servants and attract qualified staff. Although considerable progress has been made in reforming the judicial system, the infrastructure of the courts remains inadequate. Alignment in terms of the fight against fraud has progressed well. Improved procedures must be implemented to manage and control Community funds. The operation of the Court of Auditors is satisfactory, although cooperation between its internal control units should be improved. Hungary is almost aligned with the acquis in the statistical field.

Assessment (October 2002)

These priorities have not been assessed.

Assessment (November 2003)

Please refer to the fact sheets on the adoption of the Community acquis.

Following the signing of the Accession Treaty on 16 April 2003, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia acceded to the European Union on 1 May 2004.

REFERENCES

Decision 99/850/EC, 6.12.1999Official Journal L 335, 28.12.1999

Commission opinion COM(97) 2001 finalNot published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(98) 700 finalNot published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(1999) 505 finalNot published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2000) 705 finalNot published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2001) 700 final - SEC(2001) 1748Not published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2002) 700 final - SEC(2002) 1404Not published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2003) 675 final - SEC(2003) 1205Not published in the Official Journal

Treaty of Accession to the European Union [Official Journal L 236, 23.09.2003]

Last updated: 19.11.2004