Peter Feldmajer, president of the Federation of Hungarian Jewish Communities welcomed Wednesday a pension hike for the country's dwindling number of Holocaust survivors but said the government needed to do more to combat extremism and anti-Semitism.

"These are very positive steps," Feldmajer told AFP. "Much more needs to be done, however," he said. "Commemorating the Holocaust needs to be backed up by more condemnation of modern-day far-right extremism."

Hungary's cabinet announced December 20 that from January 1 a special pension set up in 1997-8 for Holocaust survivors -- estimated to number 7,000-8,000 now -- would increase by 50 percent and by a further 50 percent one year later.

Last year the pension amounts ranged from 5,000-30,000 forints (17-100 euros, $23-133) per month depending on age, Feldmajer said.

He also welcomed the government's announcement of a new committee to coordinate with Jewish civic groups memorial events in 2014 to mark 70 years since the mass deportation of Hungary's Jews began in 1944.