The 16 meetings of European Union ministers Hungary will host during the presidency will take place in the former stables of the palace, Révész said. The building, with a capacity to seat 400-500, has often been used for concerts and exhibitions, but it will obviously have to meet ?high-level requirements? during the time of Hungary?s EU presidency, he added.
The contract for the restructuring is expected to be signed at the end of August and work should start at the beginning of September, Révész said. The project, which has the support of the staff of the Prime Minister?s Office, will be completed by the end of year with all certainty, he added.
On days when meetings take place, the entire palace, including the park, will be closed to visitors for security reasons, Révész said. This is the price for preventing gridlock in the capital, he added.
Révész said the palace staff was eager to show it to visiting delegations and would like to organise cultural events, such as concerts, for them, if the government supports the idea.
The renovation of one of the palace?s wings was completed in July at a cost of more than HUF 1.6 billion, supported with European Union funding.
Source: Hungarian News Agency (MTI) / Photo: MTI
