Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania

Dialogue for Autonomy

Electoral Program

Motto „With European Eyes, Transylvanian Soul”

Aladár Kuncz

About the Particular Use of Parliamentary Action...
– We are to decide for ourselves! –

There are certain places in the world where the ideal dream came true: freely elected leaders under the supervision of their electorate and strict legal frameworks shape the welfare society of a community. Do we want to create this world in this corner of the world as well? We need to want to build up the institutions of democracy! In happier parts of the world parliamentary democracy has created the quality of life we all strive for. This is why we have paraphrased Apáczai, who saw the redemption of a community in schools that generate knowledge. Almost three centuries later, we consider that at the beginning of the 21st the community of highly cultivated persons can flourish only if it takes part in legislation, its public representation provides prosperity for farmers as well as for wage- and salary-earners with the power of laws. Without our parliamentary representation, would it have been possible to regain possession of our communal properties, to start the return of confiscated church properties, to enlarge our educational network with new Hungarian-language schools, to renovate or erect new statues, to benefit of the use of language rights, to travel without visa to the mother-country, to apply freely the Status Law? Would the building of the motorway have started? Without parliamentary representation, can we fulfill the goals of the following four years, namely to guarantee certainty of existence brought about by autonomy forms comprised in a Law on Minorities that creates the institutional system for the self-determination of the community from cultural independence to administrative and territorial self-governments? In order to develop these rights into real self-determination we have to go to vote to become a parliamentary power! I think this is said clearly enough, this time the bells toll for us, for each of us! There should be no more historical situations when others decide about our community without us! The decrease of the Hungarian community makes it even more difficult to overcome the election threshold, therefore we must all express our votes and vote unanimously to continue the work that has as final result the possibility to decide about our community! To be able to live as ethnic Hungarians in our native country where life is worth living it!
This program is about the offer made to the Transylvanian Hungarian community by our public representation for the following four years. Each elector must experience that politics is about him, about his interests and his problems. In our literature that evokes our spirituality, number 12 and the stars are very dear symbols. Our offer has 12 chapters and the flag of the Union that may bring our prosperity has also 12 stars. The association is obvious; our offer includes thoughts concerning the yearnings of the nation and duties to be fulfilled until we obtain the flag of the European Union. This offer can be perceived as an agreement, the revival of the essence of our lives. One can talk big. One can make foggy promises while today and tomorrow do not make us happy.
We offer an agreement that makes today and tomorrow easier, while it also treads a path for tomorrow! We do not promise Canaan beginning with tomorrow, but we do promise a legislative work that builds the house of a free Hungarian community that increases in the number of newborn children and assets as well. Yes! We must enter the Europe that divides the mutilated land into regions according to human, historical, economic relations! Through the establishment of real democracy, we shall guarantee real self-governments to small communities, to the inhabitants of small regions due to the operation of laws and, then, all citizens will recognize their interests and dreams in the decisions of local self-administrations! We offer a world in which security is provided by our belief in our own power. This program is an agreement that might create certainty of existence for each region, each small region and each constituent! Let’s conclude an agreement for a powerful parliamentary representation, for our prosperity!

I. FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF OUR NATIONAL IDENTITY

1. About our national identity

According to our native Hungarian language, national identity, culture, history, folklore, we – the Transylvanian Hungarians, the Hungarians in Romania, including the Chango-Hungarians who live outside the Carpathians – are an organic part of the Hungarian nation.
We want to maintain, foster, express and develop our national identity both in Romania and Europe.
We consider the characteristic of our Hungarian national identity the Transylvanian cultural, spiritual, folk and civil values, traditions, political, social goals and endeavors that we wish to represent and claim within the country and the Hungarian nation.
For the defense of our national identity, our goal can be neither migration, nor can we accept assimilation into the Romanian nation. We do not wish to be Europeans without identity. We wish to live and prosper in our native country.

We want to be and remain Hungarians, Transylvanian Hungarians, Hungarians in Romania, European Hungarians!

2. The political tools for the maintenance of our national identity

The political tools for the maintenance of our national identity are the efficient representation and defense of interests, as well as a system of self-governments guaranteed by public law. Therefore, we must be present in the Romanian political life, from local self-governments, local and central authorities to the Parliament.
Efficient defense of interests and operating autonomy of the community cannot be achieved in political and social vacuum. These goals must be harmonized with the Transylvanian Hungarian, Romanian and European realities. It can be achieved with an active political participation, first of all with a parliamentary participation.
Self-government and all its forms strengthen democratic principles, the democratic state structure, and the rule of law. At the same time, it can be neither exclusive, nor repressive. Consequently, self-government must be desired by both the Romanian and the Hungarian society.
Our duty is to convince and make the Romanian majority, society and political sphere understand that this is a modern European project that offers acceptable solutions for themselves as well.

3. Self-government

One form of self-government is community autonomy.

Autonomy for the Hungarian society in Romania is:
? a principle, that shall prevail during the foundation of the institutions of the constitutional order;
? the right of our national community, exercised in order to develop and maintain its identity;
? a means, by which the Hungarians in Romania may establish their economic and cultural development in their native country, may create the material, political, legal conditions for remaining in their native country;
? a strategic goal followed by the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania in its political activity and its relations with the organizations of the civil society.

a state of affairs that shall make the everyday of minority existence a livable reality.

Autonomy, community self-government only mean institutionalized jurisdiction for the national community so that it may be able to decide in compliance with the Constitution and the law on questions concerning its national identity, its decisions be recognized by the state and its carrying out be guaranteed.

4. Means to achieve community autonomy

Autonomy, the different forms and types of self-government are, first of all, questions concerning the organization of the state, and only secondly a problem of human rights. As a question concerning the organization of the state, it can be solved exclusively by dialogue with the political, social and national majority.
a. Dialogue is needed at least in four respects:
Hungarian-Romanian,
Hungarian- Hungarian,
Romanian- Romanian dialogue and
at international political level.
Continuous, real dialogue, persuasion, political will and law are needed. First of all, the Transylvanian society should not perceive it as a mythical goal. It should become the demand, the urgent claim of the everyday.
One-sided initiatives that do not meet the will of the majority, the Transylvanian Hungarian reality or that of Romania yield no result. They are political deadlocks.
b. Autonomy cannot be imagined without effective public reinforcement.
The institutionalization of autonomy affects the structure of democracy as well, because the public enforcement of self-government also presumes the effective reorganization of the structure of the power, as it demands that the central power devolves a part of its competences, which previously belonged to the concept of national sovereignty, to the respective national community.
We, our Alliance and first of all our parliamentary representation shall create the condition for autonomy by the help of the law. We shall revise our concept on autonomy, on national self-governance. We need not to return to the past practices of Europe, but make use of what the dynamically developing present European institutional system and regulations offer.
Territorial, regional or country-wide autonomy structures that break down state power and centralization shall be established supporting minority-community autonomy. They shall have true guarantees as far as their legal operation, economic regulation, organizational and associational elements are concerned.
“Initiatives that come from below” need a very strong and respected system of fundamental rights, human rights and a proper internal and external political consensus. In the present practice the system is not operational, we must fight to develop it within a reasonable time.

5. Legislative rights for the establishment of community autonomy

Amendment of the Constitution
a. Constitutional guarantees shall be passed according to which accession to the European Union; integration preserves, defends and supports the Transylvanian Hungarian national identity.
b. Local, administrative autonomy shall be recognized as a separate branch of power as far as the separation of power is concerned.
c. Certain rights devolving form the sovereignty of the state shall be transferred to the institutions of national communities.
d. Within the organization of the state the different autonomy forms shall be structurally and functionally recognized in compliance with the standards and practices of the European Union.
e. National communities and minorities shall have proportional representation in decision-making regarding all the problems relating to the country and society.
f. Exclusive sphere of authority and executive methods shall be provided for national communities in questions pertaining to their identity.
g. The sphere of constitutional mechanisms shall be enlarged to ensure active participation in public life.
h. Constitutional warrantees shall be obtained to elaborate the institutions of minority self-governments by the recognition of their legal status.
i. The efficient defense of rights and interests, the enforcement of rights, fundamental human and collective rights shall be extended by constitutional means.

Draft laws, amendment of laws
a. The draft law(s) to be elaborated shall create the conditions for the state of autonomy, i.e. self-government, the possibilities of decision-making in questions concerning directly our identity. The possible autonomy forms are the personal autonomy, cultural autonomy, territorial autonomy conferring special status to a region, and local administrative autonomy.
b. The draft law(s) shall be elaborated on the legal standing of national communities and of their organizations, on the establishment of national self-governments that create the legal framework for cultural autonomy.
c. Local autonomy shall be enlarged by the amendment of laws.
d. The principle of devolution shall be used consequently in the respect of local self-governments and shall be extended to national communities as well.
e. The law shall regulate that local self-governments be obliged to consult in due time and form the national minorities living on their territories in questions pertaining to them especially if they are not proportionally represented.
f. The same principle shall prevail in planning and decision-making pertaining to minorities or national communities, involving their local or parliamentary representation, from case to case, the entire Hungarian civil society or its organizations.
g. Draft laws or amendments to laws shall be adopted to ensure the unimpeded functioning of the existing (administrative, university, ecclesiastical) autonomy forms and the development of their equitable support system.
h. Draft law(s) shall be elaborated to establish and support independent institutions aiming at maintaining our identity.
i. Community autonomy based on territorial criterion shall be adjusted to the constitutional principle of enlarged local autonomy and efficient administrative conditions instead of ethnic principle. These local governments of special status must be invested with further authority that contributes to the preservation and development of the national identity.*
j. Draft laws or amendments shall be initiated to stop the modification of the ethnic composition of traditionally ethnic Hungarian settlements.
k. Mechanisms that equalize chances shall be regulated to eliminate disadvantageous situation arising from minority existence.

* Note:
- There is no need to establish a little Hungarian national state in the large Romanian national state – as it would neither strengthen, nor weaken it. Instead, an up-to-date territorial autonomy is required that is based on regionalism, devolution of power and efficient territorial administration.

II. CERTAINTY OF EXISTENCE AND SOCIAL SECURITY

The aim to integrate into the European Union requires a higher level of social security, the creation of institutional guarantees of social rights. Therefore, during the pre-accession period, efforts shall be made in the field of social policy, and our organization for the defense of interest wishes to contribute to it in all respects.
The Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania considers that solidarity, and social responsibility occupy an important place. The needy must be helped, but they should also make efforts to better their circumstances. To solve social problems is the token of democracy and social stability, not only a humanitarian act.

1. Managing poverty and social exclusion
The most serious social problem of Romania is poverty that influences life style and public thinking.
Poverty and social exclusion is a long-term, complex task that needs well-coordinated measures of social policy. We consider important the passive allowances (financial assistance, heating aid) of social policy, but we are convinced that active measures which create job opportunities should receive a more important role. We would like to establish a new equilibrium between passive social protection and active employment policy so that the social system would not make unemployment an appealing way of life.
- The basic institutions of social welfare must be the local administrations of localities, but they also have to have adequate funds to carry on activities with social character.
- We encourage those NGOs which try to ease social problems based on the principle of solidarity.
- We support those families who assume the responsibility to care for abandoned children or orphans and those NGOs or ecclesiastical organizations that try to ease the problems of the poor.
- We support the urgent housing of those who will become homeless due to the Restitution Law in order to prevent their social exclusion.
- We support all measures that aim at the social integration of the youth who grow up in institutions, preventing them from becoming juvenile delinquents due to the lack of social welfare.

2. Social insurance
- We urge the reform of pension schemes, elaboration of a law on optional private pension funds.
- We back measures that ease the burden of social insurance, the transfer of certain social insurance services in healthcare and welfare systems.
- We wish to ensure that the survivor spouse benefits, beside his/her pension, of a percentage of the pension of the deceased spouse, if the sum total is less than the tax-free pension.

3. Defense of the elderly
The stable value of pensions shall be ensured for the sake of social justice.
– We shall urge the growth in value of pensions as compared to average monthly earnings, reinstating thus the earlier balance. The economy in development must ensure the growth of life quality. Special attention shall be paid to agricultural pensions received by the pensioners of former agricultural co-operatives, who are repeatedly disadvantaged. We urge that their pensions increase to an average of 50 euros.
– We urge the recalculation of pensions in compliance with the methodology included in the Law on Pensions and the extension of measures on the harmonization of pensions.
– We back measures on the price support of medicines easing thus the social problems of the ill elderly.
– We back the establishment of a social insurance system for farmers.

4. Defense of disadvantaged persons
- Equality of chances shall be ensured for disadvantaged persons.
- We urge the employment of disadvantaged persons. we wish to ensure full allowance in case their income is lower than the minimal wage.
- We urge the price support of fuel of the physically handicapped, who cannot use public transportation, to insure their integration into the society. we wish to increase the number of free telephone impulses for those physically handicapped persons who cannot use any means of transportation.
- We wish to ensure the social adaptation of children with learning disabilities (dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, attention problems), therefore we support measures that ensure adequate educational programs for them.
- We urge the modernization of the institutional system meant to insure the care for handicapped persons according to the regulations of the European Union and the economic potential of the country, as well as the reestablishment of the independent legal status of shelters for the elderly.

5. Amendment of the Law on Restitution
- We want to submit draft laws to put an end to the inequity existing in the Law on persons ethnically persecuted between 1940-1945, on persons politically persecuted between 1945-1989 and the inmates of labor camps.

6. Social services
Due to the population decrease our society is aging. The number of single elderly persons who are unable to care for themselves increases. For their defense:
- We urge the development of the social institutional network.
- We back that NGOs and churches establish and operate shelters for the elderly, and receive state subsidy to improve proper care for the lonely senior citizens.
- We support self-governments, NGOs and churches in organizing the village caretaker service, and that they receive subsidy for their work.

7. Family policy
In the opinion of our Alliance the family is the most important institution of the society. Therefore:
– We wish to diminish the burden of families with children.
- We consider important to further develop the preferential tax system, as well as the credit system for house building and buying.
- Educational allowances shall be extended to grandparents if they accept the education of the newborn child while the parents go back to work.
- The educational allowance shall be calculated proportionally with the income, but it cannot be less than 75% of the average wage for the economy.
- we shall urge the establishment of a complex support system for single parents.
- we back measures that aim at helping large families.
- We wish to extend maternity allowances to urge the further education of young mothers to improve their situation on labor market.
- We shall urge the introduction of the holiday ticket system and its deduction from the profit tax.
- We shall urge the all-day school program project with state subsidy.
- We shall urge subsidized holidays for children coming from families with low income.
- We consider important the subsidy for milk and dairy products in kindergartens and schools.
- We wish to extend the number of those subsidy systems that can grant the housing of those young people who do not have enough money to buy or build flats.
- We urge the elaboration of long-term preferential credit systems for building or buying flats.
- We suggest high winter expenses should be balanced with reasonable yearly average expenses to diminish the burden of public expenses.
- We urge the elaboration of a national program for the rehabilitation of flats.

8. For a healthy society
? We need to disclose resources to renovate hospitals; those hospitals that correspond to a certain criteria system shall have the chance to benefit of further funds to restore the buildings.
? We shall improve emergency assistance, and urge the implementation of the 112 system (ambulance, fire brigade, police) in each county.
? We shall back access of the masses to the services of medicinal tourism.
? We back the decentralization of health system, creating the proper financial framework for the functioning of the public health institutions.
? We urge the establishment of church and charity hospitals.
? We shall back the elaboration of a wage system that stimulates health workers and stops the emigration of specialists.
? We back the economic autonomy of the National Health Insurance House. We disapprove of the fact that health funds should be included in the state budget.
? We shall claim the expedient and open management of health insurance funds.
? We shall urge further contribution of the health insurance company to the expenditures of more expensive diagnostic procedures and treatments.
? During the following four years screening test should be performed on the population to establish whether the respective person suffers from an illness that is seriously injurious to his/her health.
? We shall initiate a draft law to extend the family doctor system, to improve living and working conditions of doctors who live in the country and urge the finalization of privatization concerning family doctor consulting-rooms.

9. Employment policy
While awaiting the integration of Romania into the European Union a serious challenge for employment policy is to be prepared to cope with the European labor market. Therefore the guiding principles of our employment policy include the development of small businesses, the increase of the adaptability of employers and employees, the strengthening of equality of chances between men and women.
? Adult training and retraining shall be organized with the participation of the employers, trade unions, and self-governments at county level; therefore the efficiency of county-level roundtables shall be increased.
? We shall support the idea that youth under the age of 26 to be able to take state examinations in foreign languages, obtain the driving license and computer user qualification free of charge.
? We support the amendment of the law on unemployment – the unemployment benefit should depend on the contribution of the unemployed, the annulling of the uniform sum (in market economy one cannot refer infinitely to solidarity).
? The support of working places should be extended to those persons who exceed the period of unemployment benefit and social assistance and have no income.
- We urge that job-creating and retraining authorities should build up a system that enables the establishment of professional groups in charge with small regions and increase in this way the job-creating and retraining efficiency of small localities.
- We monitor the observance of the Law that ensures allowances for entrepreneurs who employ men over 50 and women over 45.

10. For equality of chances
We propose the amendment of Law No. 202/2002 in order to establish an independent national bureau for equality of chances (eventually subordinated to the Parliament or the prime minister).
The Hungarian community in Romania and the representation of its interests must consider a priority the equality of chances between men and women in all the fields of economic, cultural and political life. Therefore:
? The mechanisms that promote equality of chances between men and women shall be included in a law and observed.
? A policy that integrates equality of men and women in all fields of life shall be elaborated.
? The learning of non-discriminative norms and forms of behavior shall be supported in order to ensure partnership between women and men.
? The presence of women in social and public life shall be encouraged.

III. FOR THE PROGRESS OF THE HUNGARIANS – FOR THE PROGRESS OF THE HUNGARIAN SOCIETY

1. Goals of the DAHR’s economic program

We wish to increase considerably the real living standards of the citizens, to better their living conditions, to decrease poverty, to improve the chances of rising, and to strengthen the middle class.
We wish to ensure earnings that cover good living and performance-based salaries for the employees, reasonable salaries for public employees, incentive economic environment, jobs for the unemployed, fair pensions for the retired, advantageous child support for parents, accessible support for farmers and an efficient social network for the needy.
To achieve the above, we need a functioning market economy that is the basic element of a sustainable development, the strengthening of the institutional framework of democracy and an efficient, inexpensive state.
Beside a functioning market economy, trained human resources must be also ensured for the sake of competitiveness.
The legal system that regulates the operation of enterprises shall be simplified and unambiguous.
A country is wealthy if it ensures the possibility of welfare for its citizens.

2. The restructuring of economy and privatization must be continued

A functioning market economy is not only the requirement of the European Union or the International Monetary Fund, but the primary condition for the welfare of the citizens. The economic policy of the past 15 years, the inefficient intervention of the state confirms the necessity that the state withdraw from the economy of the country.
Lossmaker state enterprises impede economic growth and are the primary cause of financial blockage. State monopolies must be eliminated without the appearance of private ones. The restructuring of economy and privatization must continue in the energy sector. The development of research shall be encouraged by tax allowances in the private sector.
Privatization must end (including that of the banking system by 2007) and the transparency of these processes shall be ensured after privatization.
Transparent and efficient assistance system shall be operated to increase the competitiveness of small and medium-size enterprises, to develop their activity, to enhance that their products reach domestic and foreign markets. We highly support tax, investment and credit allowances for small and medium-size enterprises in tourism and medicinal tourism. We support the creation of preferential credit arrangements amounting up to 5000 Euro for micro and small enterprises.
Long-term preferential credit system and tax allowances should be elaborated for young people who run their own business or want to start one.

3. Economic growth and lowering inflation

Between 2004 and 2008 the annual economic growth must be higher than 5% and reach 21-22%, while deficit must be kept under 3% by maintaining macro-economic stability.
The dynamic growth of economy, the evident decrease of unemployment, economic balance, the gradual decrease of inflation shall be maintained simultaneously with the spending power of performance-based salaries, pensions and social security.
The lowering of inflation continues to be a primary goal. Beginning with 2004, our economy is characterized by a one digit (lower than 10%) inflation and it shall become lower by further 1.5-2% yearly to reach the level set by the European Union.

4. Lowering the burden of taxation

It is essential to lower the unbearable burden of taxation for both employers and employees. By levying a lower tax on a higher taxable income black or grey market can be suppressed. This means surplus receipts for the budget and, at the same time, an income growth for employees and companies.
Fiscal legislation must be amended. The uniform rate of tax shall be introduced in the case of personal income tax that shall be 22-23%.
Profit tax of companies shall be lowered from 25% to 16%.
The percentage of contributions paid by companies after the wage-fund shall be lowered to 28% from the present 33.25%. The payment system shall be simplified so that the payment is made in one sum to one account number and tax authorities make the further transfers.
A neutral tax system shall be set up at medium term, meaning that the amount of the personal income tax paid by employees shall be equal with the amount of profit taxes and dividend tax paid by companies. Following the amendment of the Code on Taxation, the date by which the measures coming into effect shall be modified is from six months to two years, ensuring thus a better planning for the entrepreneurial environment.

As a combined effect of the lowering of the burden of taxation and of the real growth of wages and salaries, the average earnings must be doubled before accession to the European Union.

5. The reform of the state budget must continue

The programs included in the budget are the most important means to redistribute public moneys, therefore during decision-making both the principle of regional solidarity and equity shall be taken into consideration.
The elaboration of the territorial (regional) structure of programs financed from the state budget, with special regard to the infrastructural development programs, does not belong only to the jurisdiction of the ministry. The role played by the institutions of counties and regions shall increase and parliamentary control shall prevail.
The executions of programs shall be monitored, the entire range of state investments shall be efficiently controlled paying special attention to the observance and compliance with the procedure concerning public purchases as it is also an effective weapon in fight against corruption.
For the observance of the budgets of different programs we back planning for several years’ standing.

6. Monetary policy

Measures that prepare the monetary union shall continue so that Romania should be able to join the rank of states that use the euro. We consider the introduction of the strong lei in 2005 an important step and back it.
The National Bank is independent, but its measures correlated with the macroeconomic steps of the government shall continue to have a role that decreases inflation, while it ensures the stability and strengthening of lei (national currency) as compared to other foreign currencies.

7. The use of EU funds

On the brink of EU accession, in 2004, Romania has 1.2 billion euro at her disposal from pre-accession funds (PHARE, ISPA and SAPARD). In 2007 these funds shall amount to over 2 billion euro. Urgent measures are needed to increase the capacity to receive these funds and to enhance their regular use in all fields of public administration and entrepreneurial sphere. The part of the project costs that are needed in order to use EU funds shall be covered from the state budget. In order to guarantee credit constructions that insure the resources of self-governments, warranty funds shall be set up and the existing ones shall be supplemented.
The number of qualified personnel and agencies that provide EU-tender services shall increase. Free, complete access to information shall be provided. The announcement of tenders shall be simplified and the administrative barriers diminished.
Self-governments shall have a “pre-made” tender package in order to be able to participate at short term tenders.

8. Foreign capital and industrial parks

Foreign capital inflow is indispensable for the balance of payments, future development of economy. At the same time, large foreign and multinational companies may have an important role in the development of underdeveloped regions. The government and local self-governments should harmonize their policy as far as the territorial coordination of large-scale investment is concerned.
The system of industrial parks is an important means in equitable regional development, therefore the DAHR promotes the establishment of industrial parks by state subsidy and EU funds.
We encourage the establishment of 200 industrial parks by 2008, as well as setting up a network of industrial parks in Romania.
We urge the acceleration of the building and development of the road network.
We enhance industrial parks that are set up as a Greenfield investment, while due to restructuring one should consider whether it is profitable to use or reuse the infrastructure of large-scale industrial areas.
We encourage the setting up of industrial parks that use innovational, logistical and highly trained work force so that small and medium enterprises become the partners of multinational companies.

9. Local public moneys

Local self-government should receive a higher percentage from the GDP.
The decentralization of public administration and the transfer of tasks to local level shall be followed by the real financial decentralization, while further funds shall be transferred to local level.
Emergency Act No. 45/2003 on local public moneys shall be amended. The methodology to balance local budgets shall be modified insuring the decision-making power in compliance with the principle of the devolution of power.

10. For the defense of our smallholders

The defense of the agricultural land
? A draft law on land buying, redistribution and change of farm plots shall be elaborated to protect agricultural land after accession into EU and to prevent land speculations.
? Land resting subsidy shall be introduced in the case of large farms.
? The extent of the land that is lying fallow shall be established.
? We firmly advocate that the return of nationalized lands is finished.

Strengthening of the farmer society
? The Alliance takes all measures to enforce equitably, fully and as fast as possible the laws on land, and takes steps against those who impede the restoration of property rights.
? the transparent, controllable, permanent and equitable assistance system of farmers shall be established in compliance with EU standards (enforce Law 454/2003).
? The assistance system of first processors shall be set up (wool, flax, hemp).
? The assistance system of small-scale producers involving limited administration shall be set up.
? yearly small-scale producer assistance system shall be set up irrespective of the size of the land and the number of the livestock; the minimum sum shall be 1200 euro.
? Setting up of storage facilities for producers specialized in beef, mutton and goat shall be promoted.
? Free consultations shall be organized.
? Private entrepreneurs shall be supported in control device acquisition necessary in laboratories for the quality control food-products.
? Planting of vines as well as the introduction of modern wine-growing technologies shall be supported in traditional wine-regions.
? Long-term preferential credit shall be set up for the afforestation of land that is not used for agricultural purposes.
? Vertical product chains shall be set up.
? NGOs shall be consulted in questions of agricultural policy.

Promotion of family farms
? the Law on family farms shall be elaborated to make possible the establishment of advantageous credit system;
? family farms without capital shall receive bank credits for land buying purposes up to 60 ha and for settlement up to 1 billion lei, with a falling due of 5-10 years and a year of grace. 50% of the interest shall be assumed by the state.

11. Being competitive in Europe

Preparations for integration
? starting capital for young farmers, support of agricultural land or settlement buying by 25% non-reimbursable grant, long-term credits with a falling due of 10 years and a year of grace. 75% of the interest shall be assumed by the state.
- support of professional further training and retraining (attributed to agricultural educational institutions and other adult training organizations by calling for tenders);
- development of village tourism and handicrafts by financial assistance and tenders;
? elaboration of the framework law on cooperatives;
? elaboration of a database on livestock according to EU standards to create the condition for financial assistance;
? elaboration of a database on farming population for the allocation of financial assistance;
? modernization and development of institutional system for EU and domestic az EU financial assistance, setting up of the Chambers of Agriculture;
? support of the agricultural statistical and informational service system;
? urging the establishment and support of produce cooperatives;
? support of representative trade union and civil organizations from the state budget in order to take over certain competences from the state before EU accession.

For a predictable produce market
? introduction of the subsidized procurement system for cereals, potato, beef, mutton, goat and dairy products;
? amendment and enforcement of the rules on agricultural market;
? introduction of the sugar market rules (protection against import from a third country, support of export, state intervention by buying up, quota system, inter-trade agreement between sugar beet growers and processing industry);
? export assistance for agricultural produces, introduction of pre-financing of repayment.

12. Equality of chances for all regions

Efficient regional development
Romania has no legal regulation on regional development. The establishment of the institutional system that monitors the EU Structural Funds is delayed. The institutional system concerning the regional policy of Romania is confusing; the role of development regions is limited to the execution of ideas of the central power.
The Romanian regional development practice violates the principles of the devolution of powers, decentralization and partnership.
The regional policy of Romania does not promote the decrease of development inequality between different regions and decrease of the disadvantage of underdeveloped regions.
The present law on regions does not take into consideration that there already exist certain historical regions defined by geographical, socio-economic, historical, cultural or environmental circumstances. The existence of the actual artificial regions is not justified with full knowledge of the above facts.
The Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania shall initiate the debate on its own draft law on country planning and regional development.
Our goal is to have a legal framework for regional development that:
? defines region in compliance with national relations and attractions, taking into consideration the geographical, socio-economic, historical, cultural or environmental circumstances, and
? is appropriate for fulfilling the goals of the Treaty establishing the European Community.
We wish to replace the centralizing, artificial regional divisions and regional development plan with historical and voluntarily assumed partnership relations. Our primary goal is to set up an equitable regional development are for Covasna/Kovászna-Harghita/Hargita-Mures/Maros Counties.

Income increasing regional development
? We urge the elaboration of laws on the countryside, in order to solve problems like the inheritance of landed properties, redistribution of farm lots, damage caused by wild animals.
? We further urge the strengthening of private silviculture and shall initiate the necessary amendments.
? We support the diversification of possibilities to increase income in the country, the extension of agriculture and livestock-farming, and encourage the production of local goods.
? It is necessary to set up information and tender writing centers; conditions for their setting up shall be created.
? We initiate the establishment of training and retraining centers in the country to increase the level of training of manpower in rural areas.
? We want to organize the village caretaker network and to elaborate the law that insures its establishment and operation.
? We sustain credits for housing and building of official quarters in order to insure that young intelligentsia settles in the country.

Modern country planning
? The Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania shall initiate the debate on its own draft Law on country planning and development.
? Our goal is to develop the infrastructure – road, water, gas, sewerage systems – of rural areas, paying special attention to irrigation and water supply, the development of the existing infrastructure.
? We shall initiate the defense and maintenance of rural material and spiritual inheritance, works to enhance the image of the village and natural environment, the preservation of the traditional community and economic functions of the village and the introduction of new ones.

Environmental protection and nature conservation
- We urge the elaboration of a conception on rural economy (infrastructure, services, land economy and ecology).
- Subsidy systems shall be developed to materialize the investments that insure drinking water for the rural residents, sewerage systems for cleaning dirty water, environment-friendly waste collection, and decrease of flood alerts in order to create a healthy rural environment.
- We shall establish county level “green” roundtables, with the representatives of the county self-governments, entrepreneurs, environmental authorities; the roundtables shall have an important role in the development of environmentally friendly economy.
- Our task is to introduce environmental protection into legislation.
- We urge the elaboration and passing of the draft law on soil protection.
- We encourage the idea that fines for environmental violations be included into environmental funds.
- We initiate the elaboration of a national environmental education strategy.
- We encourage that strategies against natural disasters be adjusted to real events.
- We initiate the elaboration of an environmental and natural protection strategy for the Carpathian Basin, inhabited by Hungarian community.
- The Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania wants to actively participate in the implementation of the „sustainable rural development” program of the EU.
- We encourage the signing of international treaties for the maintenance of the ecological balance of the Earth.
- We consider important that the part financed from domestic resources is insured from local or central sources in order to be able to participate in environmental tenders.
- We urge the elaboration of the draft Law on the protection of environment and the institutional establishment of national parks as authorities with concrete environmental tasks.
- We encourage the separation of nature protection and environmental protection; county offices for the protection of the environment should not be in charge with nature protection problems.
- We urge the assistance of environment rehabilitation.

IV. CITIZEN-FRIENDLY, SERVICE ORIENTED, PERFORMANCE-ORIENTED SELF-GOVERNMENTS

Self-governments are administrative authorities that accomplish local authority, they are the pillars of a democratic state. They do not only exert power as local, autonomous institutions, but manage local public problems as well.
During their functioning, relying on local NGOs, they can also mediate between the society and the state.

Goals, tasks:
? Decision-making shall be made at the level at which they are effective.
? A materially independent administrative system shall be set up, because the autonomous self-government is financially independent from the central authority.
? We want to achieve the decentralization of power by setting up regional self-governments. These regional self-governments should dispose over health, employment and agricultural funds besides regional development funds.
? The possibility must be created that cultural institutions of regional importance be financed in common by several self-governments and be proportionally supported by the state.
? State-owned inner-city areas shall become the property of self-governments.
? All establishments not used by the military shall become the property of self governments.
? The function of prefect shall have a civil/public servant character to avoid political pressure. Therefore its jurisdiction shall include only the supervision of legality.
? Tax system shall be modified so that self-governments shall receive 15% of the VAT.
? Self-governments shall be prepared for accession to the EU; funds shall be insured for these purposes.
? Beside financial resources for the range of scope (healthcare, education, protection of children, care for underprivileged people, etc.) attributed to self-governments, they should have the right to monitor their management (nomination of managers).
? Financial resources shall be provided for the execution of tasks and the system shall become predictable.
? We consider important the demilitarization of the fire-service, gendarmerie, disaster-fighting bodies (fire-service, militia, ambulance service) and their transfer into the jurisdiction of the county and local councils.
? A national program shall be elaborated that stipulates that an indoor swimming-pool shall be constructed in each locality with at least 10 thousand inhabitants by 2008.
? We initiate the launching of the program: An informational society in rural areas.
? The mayor’s offices shall have uniform digitalized databases to reduce time allotted to the administration of a problem.
? The road maintenance system shall be reorganized at national level to include the commensurate redistribution of the gas tax revenues at county level.
? The Romanian legal system shall legalize the companies of public utility (that are neither NGOs, nor a trade society, but a special legal person); we consider our task to elaborate and initiate the draft law on companies of public utility.

V. FOR OUR FREE CIVIL SOCIETY

1. As a free citizen
We can exist and work freely as a member of a community if we create our economic independence, if we assume what is called social responsibility. In this respect the civil society and the political sphere strengthen and complete each other.

2. Civil partnership
Our Alliance is partner in the development process of the civil society and this means common responsibility and cooperation.

3. Real partnership to set up the autonomous institutional system of our community
During the last 15 years, through our self-organizing society-building movement, we created the basis of the above. Almost 3 thousand civil societies and foundations are capable to supplement the autonomous institutional system of our community.

4. Transferring certain state functions to civil organizations
The development of our civil societies also means the creation of conditions of modernization, in a modern democracy the state transfers some of its spheres of authority concerning social life (social, economic, country planning problems) to civil organizations. Our civil society must reach a level at which it is capable to fill in the gap left by the withdrawal of the state. The civil sphere is already able to handle certain community problems that the state fails to handle efficiently.

5. More money to civil organizations
In order to obtain independence from the state, to develop, to ensure that they shall operate smoothly their financial basis shall be created. Therefore the DAHR aims at creating the public foundation system in order to institutionalize the indirect financing system of civil organizations.
We urge the amendment of Government Edict no. 26/2000 on societies and foundations.

6. Establishment of a self-supporting system
In our society-building practice we encourage the introduction of the self-supporting system; using the financing capacity of our society we initiate the creation of different support funds based on public contributions that are going to be the important pillars of the indirect financing system.

7. Participation of the civil society in the distribution of resources
We consider important the presence of the representatives of the civil society in bodies that distribute public money as well as the mobilization of their own resources. Within the Communitas Foundation a normative support system shall be introduced to grant the functioning of NGOs with legal personality and of nation-wide range.

8. The support of our community for NGOs
A performance-based, depoliticized, direct financing system shall be set up in order to increase the operation of NGOs.
At the initiative of the parliamentary faction the new Taxation Code guarantees that employees can offer 1% of their personal income tax to registered NGOs; it should be modified to 2%.
Its application shall be especially monitored in 2005, the first year of its application.
We set as a goal the return of former Hungarian private and community properties.

9. The EU integration of the civil sphere
For the civil sphere integration into the European Union means access to community funds and European system. The representatives of the DAHR make sure the projects of our NGOs are known in Europe and linked to international systems. In order to have access to grants, together with our partners we create the possibility to train the leaders of civil organizations so that they can submit quality tenders. We initiate the establishment of central funds to grant the part financed from domestic resources necessary for EU tenders.

10. Unitary action
Integration into the European Union shall be successful if all the groups of society take a unitary action in accession while views come closer. This approach serves the interests of both the political parties and the civil society; it is the token of our successful future and the priority of both the politics and the civil society in the forthcoming decades.

VI. „COMMUNITY OF HIGHLY CULTIVATED PERSONS” (Let’s be competitive in Europe)

1. Independent Hungarian educational system
? the most important task is to broaden the independent Hungarian institutional network within our self-governments in achieving the self-determination of the community.

2. No ethnic Hungarian student should be forced to learn in a school teaching in a different language
? the administration of educational institutions shall be decentralized, the financing system concerning institutions and students shall be modernized; the map of the Transylvanian Hungarian school system shall be drawn. (We shall make a proposal in compliance with European standards and the laws governing small natural regions to establish state and denominational secondary educational centers and to grant primary education in Hungarian language in all localities inhabited by Hungarians.);
? kindergartens and schools teaching in Hungarian language shall be established in as many localities as possible (for ex. in Huedin/Bánffyhunyad, Simleu Silvaniei/Szilágysomlyó).

3. Let’s create the condition for the operation of Hungarian institutions and their quality work
? our representatives in self-governments shall consider a priority the maintenance of schools, the granting of human and infrastructure resources (housing, paying of settlement aid, purchase of teaching aids, house maintenance, etc.) that condition quality teaching; we urge that self-governments employ educational counselors;
? vocational education shall be rehabilitated, its offer should be diversified and popularized;
? we support the establishment of alternative educational institutions (Waldorf, Freinet, Step by step, etc.).

4. Let’s keep children living in endangered cultural areas within our community
For communities living in extremely dangerous cultural areas the DAHR shall set up a special support system by coordination the resources of the state, self-governments and foundations. We aim at:
1) urging the expansion of the college system for pupils and students who live in diaspora
2) introducing applications for rent subsidies, commuting students and teachers
3) developing a scholarship system for socially underprivileged gifted students who live in rural areas
4) monitoring the observance of payouts in cases of additional financing of institutions with low number of children.

5. Let’s create equitable condition of existence for our teachers
? We shall urge the raise in salary of teachers and auxiliary staff to create equitable conditions for the educational staff.

6. Let’s accomplish the autonomy of higher education in native language
? We continue our fight at political level to create the adequate legal conditions to establish the independent Hungarian state university;
? We shall create the legal framework to set up the institutional conditions for the autonomy of native language education in state universities;
? We support the Hungarian university foundation and strive to obtain state financing; the principle of complementarity shall be enforced: to insure that state and foundation universities offer a wide range of instruction in important sectors; we assume to support the accreditation of foundation universities.

7. Competitive knowledge in higher education
? We make further efforts to enlarge educational offer in state higher education;
? We give all our educational policy and legislative support for the Hungarian educational line within the institutional reorganization and in implementing the Bologna process to assure the verticality of instruction in native language; as far as the reform of teacher-training is concerned, we support quality education and specialization of public education.

8. Let’s set up our educational background institutions
? In cooperation with civil foundations we shall set up funding or tender systems that might help the establishment of background institutions for higher education and research in native language, grant equitable social conditions for teachers;
? We set as a priority to support institutions that within the frames of scientific activity research Hungarian identity, as well as the establishment of new such institutions.

9. Social security for our students
? Teachers and students shall benefit of adequate wage supplement and scholarship systems through foundations or international support.

10. Equality of chances for Hungarian students
? The parliamentary representation shall elaborate the amendment of the Law on education so that:
a) subjects like the Geography of Romania and the History of the Romanians should be taught in the native language;
b) the teaching of the Romanian language and literature should be taught at all levels of public education according to special curricula and textbooks that take into consideration the characteristics of education in the Hungarian languge.

11. Equality of chances for each ethnic Hungarian
? The parliamentary representation shall elaborate the amendment of the Law on the status of the educational staff so that the salary of kindergarten or primary school teachers teaching in Hungarian/minority language reflect the surplus of work hours due to the teaching of the Romanian language.

12. Let’s develop the Chango-Hungarian educational framework!
? Our public representation shall create the condition to develop the Chango-Hungarian educational framework and shall take the preliminary steps to establish independent Chango-Hungarian institutions.

VII. HUNGARIAN CULTURE – EUROPEAN CULTURE

1. The development of the independent cultural institutional system
? We shall set up and develop the legal and institutional system of cultural autonomy;
? We urge the maintenance of local values, the practice of the principle of localization in our cultural life;
? We shall assure continuous support for the development of self-organizing institutional system of the community and civil society;
? We support inter-ethnic partnerships, the institutionalization of the exchange of cultural values.

2. Laws for the society, for culture
Our goals:
? the elaboration of the Law on books and its adoption in the Parliament;
? adoption of a Law on theatres that is finalized by involving the parties concerned (managing directors, trade unions);
? the amendment of sponsorship law: the level of tax deductible sponsorship payments (for culture for ex.) should be increased;
? the amendment of the VAT: for each cultural product and the materials needed for their production the VAT should be of 5%;
? sums spent for the maintenance and restoration of monuments in private property and those enumerated in the national monument catalogue should be deductible form the taxable income and the owner should receive financial aid as well.

3. More money for culture
? the financial support of our cultural institutions, NGOs without discrimination, their subsidizing from central, county and local budget commensurable to our proportion, based on the principle of equity;
? The restructuring of the system that finances culture shall receive a stressed importance by the introduction of the “four-pillar” financing – from central, county, local funds and foundations.
? The budget of local governments shall set aside a sum that shall be allocated for the cultural purposes of local minorities.
? The government shall cover partly or entirely the sum of money needed by institutions and NGOs for tenders in the field of informatization, technological development, investments etc.

4. The defense of cultural employees, of those who work for culture
? The elaboration and operation of a specific system adjusted to the characteristics of the creative work.
? In inter