The European Union allows a program of 231 million Euros supporting the Hungarian motion-picture industry

According to the legislation of the European Union, the European Commission allows a program of 231 million Euros supporting the Hungarian motion-picture industry.

This program – that lasts until 31st December 2013 – includes the whole of the supports for the Hungarian motion-picture industry, as well as all tax benefits.

The goal of the program is to encourage the development of Hungarian motion-picture industry. European films with cultural content play an important part in our society. I am glad that after the approval of the original program by the temporary commission, the Hungarian authorities added cultural criteria to it – commented on the decision Neelie Kroes, competition policy commissioner.
 
The annual budget of the program will grow every year according to the Hungarian inflation predictions. In 2008, the measures of the program will have the following budget: 3 billion HUF for tax benefits, 225 million HUF for direct support to develop the motion-picture industry and to prepare films, 3,014 billion HUF for film productions, 256 million HUF to distribute films, 220 million HUF to support ’art’ cinemas, 199 million HUF for film festivals and for further expenses, that is 6,914 billion HUF altogether.

Hungarian authorities made several changes in the program approved after joining the EU in the framework of a temporary procedure in order to comply with the EU subsidy rules. One of the most important of these was to introduce cultural criteria which can be checked in accordance with the relevant EU regulations.

During the evaluation process of film subsidy programs the European Commission gives preference to those cultural criteria which guarantee that European films with cultural content receive the available subsidy.