Klestil stressed that Austria was the first to identify Hungary's privatisation opportunities and that his country played a significant role in Hungary's change to a market economy. Hungary is currently, together with Switzerland, Austria's third most important market. It follows that the talks on Hungary's EU accession should be conducted consistently. Attila Chikan, the Hungarian Minister of Economics, said that the Government will have plans ready for reform of Hungary's health care sector by December , and not January 2001 which was the date previously set for a health care plan. Although Chikan has not given any firm indication as to how the health care system will be reformed , he said that the developments will be of great importance not only for health care reasons, but also for financial reasons.
Health care is the last major sector to be considered for post-communist reorganisation.
Belgian Michel-Marc Delcommune has been appointed Chief Financial Officer of Hungarian oil and gas company MOL . Delcommune, who formerly had the same position in PetroFina, will be part of a three-member executive committee. Finance Minister Zsigmond Jarai has said that MOL's petrol pricing needs to be scrutinised as the increase in global, and consequently, domestic oil prices will have an adverse effect on inflation. MOL Director Gabor Garamszegi responded by saying that price levelling is possible now that Hungary's fuel market has been liberalised. Telenor also struck a deal with Telia, the Swedish state telecom company, last week to reduce objections by the European Commission to their planned merger.