The Government’s work plan for the second half of this year

Government decision-making does not stop during the summer: ‘The pace is maintained’. The Cabinet's agenda for the rest of the year comprises 164 laws, decisions and decrees, including decisions related to the implementation of the Széll Kálmán Plan, the budget for 2012, and the creation of many cardinal Acts related to the new Fundamental Law. The Government’s detailed work plan for the second half of the year can be read in the 7 July edition of Magyar Közlöny, the Hungarian Official Gazette.

In July the following will be submitted to Parliament: an amendment to the Act on the Protection of Animals; the amendment of the government decree setting out the rules for information gathering related to state secrets or national security interests; a government decree on public employees; a government decree on the rules for school-leaving examinations; a government decree on the Útravaló Scholarship Programme; and a government decree on the Hungarian National Commission for UNESCO.

In August, the new public education Act, and electronic administration and passenger service bills will come before the Government. The Cabinet will start to discuss implementation of the 2010 budget and the Budget Act draft will start. Further steps will made to implement the Széll Kálmán Plan: further decisions needed to develop the new system of public employment will be made, public employment wages and the level of public employment wages will be on the agenda, as well as the regulation of support available for public employment.

Very intense decision-making is expected in September, on 34 major themes. According to the work plan, the following will be debated: the concept of the new higher education Act; the bill on national minority rights; the proposal on Members of Parliament; the new Labour Code; and a law underpinning the introduction of dual training. A foundation bill for improving the competitiveness of Hungarian enterprises and a tax law will be submitted to the Government. The amendment of the Act on bankruptcy and liquidation will be on the agenda, as well as a bill on rules related to information security, and of course the debate on the 2012 budget will also continue.

October is expected to be even busier, with the Government tabling the debate of 38 issues, including a new Act on local government, a bill on contributions to vocational training, and a proposal on tourism. The amendment of Acts on healthcare and transport, further measures for the reduction of debt chains, and an Act on measures helping the economic environment of research and development and innovation will be on the agenda. The government will also negotiate a proposal on the Anti-Organized Crime Coordination Centre.

In November the Government plans to deal with 51 priority issues. These will include the bill on the management of the Hungarian Defence Forces’ data, amendments necessary to coordinate the civil service career structure, amendments to the Act on consumer protection, social and child protection Acts, and the bill on adult education. The government decree on raising pensions and accident benefits from January 2012, Acts on the safe operation of the national economy and defence preparations will also be debated.