THE HUNGARIAN GOVERNMENT ON FRIDAY SAID IT HAD PREPARED A DRAFT PLAN LAYING OUT HOW IT PLANS TO SPEND EUROPEAN UNION FUNDS DURING THE NEXT BUDGETARY PERIOD, DPA REPORTED. THE NEW HUNGARY DEVELOPMENT PLAN FORESEES SPENDING 8,000 BILLION FORINTS (37.5 BILLION DOLLARS), MOST OF WHICH WILL COME FROM THE EU, BETWEEN 2007 AND 2013. ACCORDING TO GORDON BAJNAI, THE GOVERNMENT COMMISSIONER RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PLAN, AROUND 80 PER CENT OF THIS MONEY WOULD BE SPENT ON INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT, WHILE THE REST WOULD GO ON PROGRAMMES TO INCREASE EMPLOYMENT AND IMPROVE SOCIAL CARE. PRIME MINISTER FERENC GYURCSANY SAID THAT REFORMS MUST BEGIN AFTER THE AUSTERITY PACKAGE THE GOVERNMENT RECENTLY INTRODUCED HAD BROUGHT BALANCE TO THE ECONOMY. THE PLAN WILL BE DEBATED IN PARLIAMENT AND GO BEFORE THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL BEFORE IT IS FINALIZED BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER AND SUBMITTED TO THE EU BY OCTOBER 1.
