92001E2669

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2669/01

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(2 October 2001)

Subject: Széchenyi Plan in Hungary

Hungary is currently endeavouring, by means of the Széchenyi Plan, to achieve the strongest possible economic growth, with numerous programmes for promoting enterprise, tourism, regional and economic development and active employment. It is an ambitious plan whose key objectives include rapid and sustainable economic growth, mobilising domestic and foreign economic resources, creating new economic opportunities, social gains and responding to the challenges of the new economic era.

Will the Commission say whether it is actively supporting implementation of the Széchenyi Plan in Hungary by assisting with the search for partners and investors, or if it is supporting the plan in any other way, e.g. financially?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(31 October 2001)

The Commission welcomes the setting up of the Szechényi plan, which will strengthen the competitiveness of the Hungarian economy and in particular of the small and medium-sized enterprises (SME). The Commission neither actively participates in the search for partners and investors, nor does it directly financially contribute to the plan. However, Hungary's preliminary National Development Plan, which underpins the PHARE Economic and Social Cohesion support, is also based on the Szechényi Plan.

In this context, PHARE has funded in 2000 and 2001 a number of actions, which are complementary to the ones proposed under the Szechényi Plan, in the following sectors:

- Innovation specifically information society;

- Tourism development;

- SME development;

- Regional development especially industrial parks and business zones.

For 2002 and 2003, the Commission is currently in the process of discussing with the Hungarian government the possibility of a joint co-financing of some of the measures common with the Plan. The preliminary National Development Plan does also take into account of the Instrument for Structural Policies for Pre-Accession (ISPA) strategies in order to provide a coherent framework for pre-accession programming. Also, the new ISPA aiming at support for the candidate countries to meet European environmental standards and at linking them with the Trans-European Transport networks forms a point of contact with the Széchenyi plan and indirectly supports its objectives. ISPA finances, for example, a project aiming at increasing the load-bearing capacity of two non-motorway roads.