Hungary unveils new ‘clean up’ plan as governemnt takes first steps to unlocking frozen EU funds– www.euronews.com
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EXCERPT:
The Hungarian Integrity Authority is setting up a register of economic operators excluded from public procurement after they were deemed to have committed criminal offences.
This measure, which is essential for the resumption of EU funding, is intended not only to weed out abuses but also to offer a chance for self-cleaning, according to the government.
Budapest argued on Thursday that those who can prove that they have “restored their trustworthiness” should have their names removed from the register.
The Hungarian Integrity Authority is also launching the first registration procedures and will begin keeping a list of economic operators excluded from public procurement.
The primary purpose of operating this publicly accessible database is to ensure that no economic operator can take part in public procurement procedures if its executive officer, member of the supervisory board, managing director or beneficial owner has been the subject to a final court decision for criminal offences as defined in the Public Procurement Act.
The authority stressed that the measure concerns a clearly defined group in legal terms; while making the information public was not about stigmatisation, but about preventing further abuses and ensuring the integrity of public procurement.
