23/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - Hungary: prolongation of two aid packages to banks. On Thursday 23 June the European Commission authorised the extension (until 31 December 2011) of the ongoing support system to credit institutions, initially approved on 12 February 2009 (EUROPE 9839). This covers recapitalisation measures for the banks concerned. The Hungarian system aims to obtain liquidity for the financial establishments in the country, in an effort to encourage lending to the economy. This system was initially approved on 14 January 2010 (EUROPE 10056) and has been extended twice, once on 28 June 2010 and again on 7 December of the same year. The Commission considered that the extension of these systems complied with orientations on state aid to banks during the crisis. (F.G./transl.fl)