A committee whose members are delegated by Hungary’s National Economy Ministry and Rural Development Ministry have proposed exemptions from a ban on the construction of big shopping centers in fifteen cases so far, National Economy Minister György Matolcsy said in a written response published on Parliament’s website.

Exemption from the ban can be issued by the national economy minister based on recommendation of the committee, set up by the ministers responsible for rural development, environment protection and trade. 


So far, 41 applications have been submitted to the committee, of which they discussed 29, rejecting 12 applications, supporting 15 and requesting further information in two cases, the minister said.


The minister’s response revealed that the exemptions proposed by the committee included the construction of a vehicle-parts store, a pet shop, a cold-storage facility and a warehouse, while and rejected applications were from one Metro and two Penny Market stores.


The government adopted a general construction ban on commercial buildings with an area bigger than 300sqms last November. The so-called plaza ban took effect at the beginning of this year and will remain in force until the end of 2014.