Debrecen4U March 20, 2026

City Leadership Enforces Zero‑Tolerance Policy on Regulatory Violations

The leadership of the City of Debrecen has initiated personal consultations with the executives of CATL, SEMCORP and EcoPro BM due to deficiencies observed in recent months at the factories during construction, commissioning and operation, where full compliance with Hungarian legislation was not ensured.

At the meeting, Mayor László Papp drew the attention of the companies’ leaders to the fact that regulatory requirements and legal provisions must be followed precisely. Should the authorities detect any irregularities during ongoing inspections, these will be investigated and sanctioned.

Existing client contracts do not entitle the companies to begin any production activities without the necessary permits. This does not influence the authorities or the municipality in the investigation of cases or in the application of appropriate sanctions. Without the required permits, it is prohibited to start up the plants or to store and use hazardous materials.

The Municipality of Debrecen calls on the leaders of the companies concerned to fully comply with labour law, occupational safety and occupational health regulations, to respect workers’ rights, and to ensure a healthy working environment. Furthermore, the municipality is initiating with the Government Office that inspections be carried out on a regular basis.

If the companies concerned do not comply with legal requirements, they cannot expect any cooperation from the municipality. Based on experience to date, the municipality does not consider further developments timely beyond those already underway. Cooperation is conditional on compliance with the rules. If the companies comply with the law, cooperation is possible; if they do not, cooperation is not.

Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu