Katalin Novák, the minister without portfolio for families, said the Hungarian government’s actions taken since 2010 were proof that it supported families. “Family is the cradle of sustainability,” Novák told the 10th Large Family Conference, a three-day event held in Keszthely, in western Hungary.
The minister added that political will was a chief pillar of sustainable family policy. In 2010, the government chose to link family benefits to work, thereby laying the foundations to increase sums available for this kind of support. Accordingly, next year’s budget contains triple the amount in 2010 for family benefits. If the economy grows by 5.5 percent, the government plans next year to return a large part of personal income tax to families raising children, she said. Sustainable family policy, the minister said, needs supporters and real communities, noting the three decades of work carried out by the National Association of Large Families. Novák spoke of sustaining the Hungarian nation and its culture and values from one generation to the next.
Justice Minister Judit Varga has said prosperous families are key to sustainable development, a concept uniting environmental, social and economic aspects. The minister said that “credible climate and environment protection is the foundation of family-friendly policies” as it works to ensure a healthy environment and sustainable lifestyle for current and future generations.
Close to 700 people from eleven countries attended the European Large Family Conference. Professional events were complemented by family programs such as arts and crafts organized for children.