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• Economic forecasts for Hungary
  
  The Commission publishes macroeconomic forecasts for the EU and the Member States twice a year, in the spring (May) and in the autumn (November). These forecasts are produced by the Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs (DG ECFIN) and include a chapter on Hungary.
  
  
• Monitoring the budgetary situation in Hungary
  
  

  Assessments of Hungary’s convergence programme
  
  As required by the Stability and Growth Pact, at the end of each year Hungary submits an update of the medium-term fiscal strategy it first presented in mid-2004. Euro area Member States submit stability programmes while countries outside the euro area submit convergence programmes. Based on an assessment by the Commission prepared by DG ECFIN, the Council adopts an opinion on each programme. All programmes of Hungary, the related Commission assessments and Council opinions, as well as the working documents containing expanded assessments prepared by DG ECFIN, can be accessed here.
  
  Hungary and the excessive deficit procedure
  
  Hungary is currently subject to the excessive deficit procedure (EDP) as specified in the Stability and Growth Pact. Based on the country's budgetary performance against the Treaty reference values of 3% of GDP for the general government deficit and 60% of GDP for the government debt, the Council decided in July 2004 that Hungary was in excessive deficit and set the deadline of 2009 to correct the situation. All documents related to the EDP for Hungary can be found here.
  
  Public finance report
  
  The Commission’s annual public finance report prepared by DG ECFIN – entitled "Public Finances in EMU" – includes a chapter on Hungary.
  

  
  
  
• Hungary and the euro
  
  Hungary has not yet adopted the euro as its currency. It will join the euro area as soon as it fulfils the necessary conditions as defined in the 'Maastricht' convergence criteria. Progress toward meeting these criteria is assessed by the Commission and the European Central Bank in regular convergence reports. The most recent Commission convergence report covering Hungary can be accessed here and the most recent Commission report on the practical preparations for the introduction of the euro in Hungary as well as other information about Hungary and the euro here.
  
  
• Hungary and economic policy coordination in the EU
  
  As part of the Lisbon Strategy for growth and jobs, Hungary presented its 3-year national reform programme (NRP) in 2005 and reports each autumn on its implementation. The Commission analyses all Member States’ reports in its Annual Progress Report (APR) and proposes, as appropriate, country-specific recommendations. All available reports can be accessed here (NB this Europa subsite is not maintained under the responsibility of the Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs).
  
  
• Selected topics
  
  The Country Focus series produced by DG ECFIN provides a concise analysis, set within the broader economic and policy debate, of a topical economic issue concerning one or more Member State(s). Country Focus issues on Hungary are listed below, the most recent first.
  
  

  Public finance reform in Hungary: light at the end of the tunnel? (February 2008)
  
  The impact of fiscal policy in Hungary (November 2007)
  
  Housing subsidies in Hungary: curse or blessing? (November 2005)
  
  Hungary's policy mix: from stabilisation to crisis to...? (May 2004)

  
  
  On 7 May 2008, the Commission adopted a Communication on "EMU@10: successes and challenges after 10 years of Economic and Monetary Union" (it was on 1 May 1998 that European Union leaders decided to launch the euro on 1 January 1999). The Communication, which takes stock of what has been achieved over the past ten years and makes proposals on the way forward, builds on an in-depth study by DG ECFIN. Both documents can be found on DG ECFIN’s EMU@10 website
  
  The enlargement study entitled "Enlargement, two years after - an economic evaluation" produced by the Bureau of European Policy Advisers and DG ECFIN reviews the experience of the May 2004 enlargement of the EU and draws lessons for future enlargement. The study focuses on the economic aspects of enlargement and assesses whether the expectations of a positive economic impact prevaling in the run-up to the enlargement have been fulfilled.