Hungary received an EU aid between 2007 and 2013 from which Észak-Alföld Regional Development Agency (ÉARFÜ) has paid HUF 59 billion for enterprise development, investments in tourism, road construction, urban development and protection of internal and run-off rain water.
During the period between 2007 and 2013, 3719 applications were received for the 342,5 billion forint allowance which can be tendered in the Northern Great Plain region. This means a total demand of HUF 533 billion, however, only half of the tenders have won.
At present, ÉARFÜ has already signed on the 93% of the available sources, which means HUF 319 billion. The beneficiaries have already received HUF 210 billion and the remaining 39% shall be transferred by the end of the year 2015.
In the beginning of the year, the payment of HUF 62 billion was planned, but the Magyar Közút pushed over the payment of HUF 2,5 billion to the next year. Despite this change, ÉARFÜ excelled among the regional development agencies because nationally, it has passed the most resources to the applicants this year.
„Only in the last quarter, HUF 21 billion was transferred to the beneficiaries which is a huge amount. The total commitment of resources and the payment of higher amount were our goals with which we can also contribute to the GDP growth – which was 1,8% in the third quarter – and to the full use of EU funds. Our colleagues worked assiduously to be able to transfer these resources in time. As a result, 95% of the planned payments was completed” – Ferenc Mező, the manager of the agency declared.
Sándor Bodó, the Chairman of the Hajdú-Bihar General Assembly and the Supervisory Board, said that the applicants of Hajdú-Bihar County had received 38% of the sums paid. He also informed the press about the changes in regional development between 2014 and 2020 which can bring the development closer to people. Thus the actual regional institutional system will be divided into county levels.
“According to the current idea, a development agency will be established in all three counties, however, its elaboration is still ongoing. The team of professionals of ÉARFÜ would be kept, since they should coordinate the maintenance and payment cycle in the next two years.”