Application of the ESA 95 methodology in the budget

Today's' discussion papers continuously debate the new issues related to regionalism, globalisation and economic integration; the term 'national sovereignty' seems to have lost its original meaning. International organisations issue recommendations and proposals to the member states' decision-makers, and the membership often requires the irreversible conversion of the entire legal system. By signing the Treaty of Accession, Hungary undertook to align its economic policy to the requirements of the Economic and Monetary Union and prepare for the requirements arising from the membership. Its commitments have affected the country's accounting and statistical system; preparatory work has started with great swing since Brussels seriously scrutinises the reports on convergence, criticises the implementation of the economic policy and records presenting the economic performance. The member states and the candidate countries are required to prepare a report in accordance with the ESA 95 methodology based on which the data relating to the budgetary deficit listed among the convergence criteria for GMU member states and candidate countries may be compared among others. The introduction of the international and European requirements for accounting and statistical records is a great burden on the authorities of the member states. This paper after introducing the internation-al accounting and statistical systems aims at revealing the difficulties occurring in connection with the convergence process and in the course of preparing an inventory of the data of the general government sector, which are expected to exist for a longer period and the routine like management of which will probably be possible only after a longer adjustment period.