EU-funded project in the Városliget (City Park) in Budapest

11.11.2015

Question for written answer E-014631-15
to the Commission
Rule 130
Péter Niedermüller (S&D)

The Hungarian Government has adopted a decision to go ahead with the so-called museum district project in Budapest's oldest, most beautiful park using EU funding.

The project gives rise to a number of questions. A presupposition for a project costing such a large amount which will be funded by EU money is that it is preceded by thorough planning and serve clear objectives. In this case, however, there have been constant changes to the idea of precisely which museums will move into the new buildings and what functions the latter will fulfil. At the same time, many experts doubt there is a need for the project at all.

There are also very serious doubts about the environmental impact of the project. The planned built-up proportion is constantly changing, and according to the heads of the local authority concerned, the tree register which has details of the current environmental situation does not contain a number of valuable trees, which might as a result be cut down with impunity under the project.

In the light of the above, I should like to ask the following:

Does the Commission intend to examine the validity of the planning, the need for the project and the environmental impact in the case of the Budapest museum district project?

How can the Commission guarantee that the EU funding will be used properly and the environment respected in this case?