Hungary plans to submit the operative programs for the funding period by the end of March, Csepreghy said.

The first tenders for the HUF 10.5 trillion in funding could be called by mid-year, and tenders for all of the operative programs will be called by October at the latest, he added.

Member states have until April 22 to formally submit partnership contracts to Brussels and another three months after that to turn in operative programs.

– David Landry contributed to this article