The government wants to finance a quarter of the planned HUF 9 billion budget - HUF 2.1 billion - by selling state owned, disused properties abroad (such as embassy buildings).

By basing the budget on anticipated income, the government jeopardizes the successful implementation of the EU Presidency, Fidesz said. Ministries are not able to award contracts or undertake financial obligations, so it is possible that preparations will have to be stopped by the end of 2010, just a few months before the Hungarian EU Presidency starts.

The parliamentary working group therefore requested the government to guarantee the total budget for the preparations in 2010 and provide up to date information to the members of the group about all developments.

The parliamentary group also requested government to pay, without delay, extra allowances to around 700 civil servants who work on preparing the Presidency, which they were due in January 2010 and they are legally entitled to.

The multi party parliamentary working group on EU Presidency was initiated by Fidesz in February 2008 and has met every two to three months since then.