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News in Brief

Coronavirus Update: EC confirms that measures Hungary has approved are in line with EU law

May 01, 2020

Věra Jourová, the European Commission’s vice-president in charge of transparency and values, has officially confirmed that there is no reason to take legal action against Hungary over its response to the coronavirus pandemic.

News in Brief

Coronavirus Update: MEPs urge EC to come up with proposals aimed at helping countries deal with the ramifications of the virus

Mar 30, 2020

MEP Tamás Deutsch said the European Parliament’s aid package of EUR 37 billion, passed on Thursday, would only benefit “some one third, fewer than half” of European Union members.

News in Brief

European Commission recognizes Hungary’s economic achievements

Mar 04, 2020

Hungary is the EU’s GDP growth champion after coming close to 5 percent growth last year.

News in Brief

State Secretary: George Soros's people are in the new European Commission

Dec 11, 2019

Zoltán Kovács said it had become clear during the second Article 7 hearing that “[US financier] George Soros’s people are also in the new European Commission” under the leadership of EC vice-president Frans Timmermans.

News in Brief

V4 urge new European Commission to speed up englargement

Dec 03, 2019

Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said one of the greatest failures of the previous European Commission headed by Jean-Claude Juncker was bringing the enlargement process to an almost complete standstill.

News in Brief

Soros attempts to influence EC not refuted

Dec 02, 2019

During Friday’s secret committee meeting, discussions focused on unrefuted reports about US financier George Soros’s attempts to influence the approval procedure of new European commissioners.

Blog Prime Minister

PM Orbán: Hungary getting the most important portfolio in the European Commission is the greatest diplomatic success in a decade

Nov 22, 2019 - Zoltán Kovács

Regarding Olivér Várhelyi’s new position as European Commissioner, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán emphasized the importance of the Neighborhood and Enlargement portfolio. The prime minister also talked about next year’s agenda and maintaining the country’s economic success.

News in Brief

Várhelyi: What an honor to become part of team Ursula von der Leyen

Nov 19, 2019

“The government welcomes that the European Parliament’s foreign affairs committee has supported Várhelyi’s appointment as European commissioner,” the Government Information Center said in a statement.

Blog

Hungary’s EU Commissioner nominee Olivér Várhelyi gets green light from EP Foreign Affairs Committee

Nov 18, 2019 - Zoltán Kovács

Olivér Várhelyi will take up the Enlargement and Neighborhood portfolio in the Commission of Ursula von der Leyen, which is expected to take office December 1.

Blog

Hungary’s EU Commissioner-designate Olivér Várhelyi: “The EU should ready itself for welcoming new Member States”

Nov 14, 2019 - Zoltán Kovács

“We must not separate national and European interests from each other, as we should work towards the common good. In the end, the ultimate goal is to create a strong and successful community,” Olivér Várhelyi said at a hearing in the EP this morning.

News in Brief

European Commission raises its projection for Hungary’s 2019 GDP growth

Nov 07, 2019

The EC left its forecast for next year’s GDP growth unchanged at 2.8 percent. It put GDP growth in 2021 at 2.8 percent.

Blog

European Commission vs. Novak and the New York Times: 1-0

Nov 06, 2019 - Zoltán Kovács

The Commission’s response to the agenda-driven reporting at The New York Times: There are clear rules and procedures in place to effectively address alleged misuse of common EU money. Meanwhile, no surprise at the bias of the NYT considering who they rely on for Hungary reporting.

News in Brief

European Commission still insists on moving migrants to Hungary, says official

Nov 04, 2019

Pál Völner said the EC had brought action against Hungary because the country refused to fulfil “the one-time mandatory quota forced through by stealth” in 2015 which would have made the country receive 1,294 migrants.

News in Brief

Government backs Olivér Várhelyi for EU commissioner post

Oct 11, 2019

The government confirmed Várhelyi’s nomination at a government meeting on Wednesday, and neither the candidate nor the Hungarian government have been informed about a possible portfolio change.

Blog

Introducing Olivér Várhelyi, Hungary’s nominee for European Commissioner

Oct 02, 2019 - Zoltán Kovács

In a press conference on Monday evening, Prime Minister Orbán officially nominated seasoned diplomat Olivér Várhelyi, Hungary’s ambassador to the EU, as the country’s next European Commissioner. Here are a few things you should know.

News in Brief

PM Orbán to nominate Olivér Várhelyi as Hungary’s new candidate for European commissioner

Oct 01, 2019

The European Parliament’s legal affairs committee confirmed on Monday that it had rejected Hungary’s initial commissioner designate László Trócsányi over a conflict of interest.

News in Brief

UVDL to ask Hungary and Romania to name new commissioner designates

Oct 01, 2019

President-elect of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen will ask Hungary and Romania to name new commissioner designates following an official letter from David Sassoli, President of the European Parliament, about the decision of the EP legal committee.

News in Brief

PM Orbán: Trócsányi’s only crime was helping protect Hungary from migration

Sep 27, 2019

In an interview with Kossuth Radio, PM Orbán praised Trócsányi as an internationally respected legal expert and experienced diplomat, calling him the “most qualified” candidate for European commissioner.

News in Brief

László Trócsányi’s EC appointment is reflective of both the candidate and the country, says official

Sep 13, 2019

Gergely Gulyás said Hungary is set to secure a key area of policymaking in the European Commission which will be of great significance to the European Union’s future.

News in Brief

PM Orbán: V4 has more clout in new European Commission

Sep 13, 2019

The Prime Minister has said that many of the migration-related problems Europe is confronting today could have been avoided had the Western Balkan nations already entered the EU.

Blog Prime Minister

PM Orbán on the new European Commission: The V4 countries have won vital portfolios

Sep 13, 2019 - Zoltán Kovács

Two of the vice-presidents on the new European Commission will come from Slovakia and the Czech Republic, while the Polish commissioner will oversee Agriculture. “The whole region, with the V4 at the helm, is seeing an on-going increase in appreciation,” Prime Minister Orbán said in a radio interview this morning, before talking about enlargement, the European way of life, foreign policy goals and family policy.

News in Brief

László Trócsányi appointed EU enlargement commissioner

Sep 11, 2019

In a letter sent to Trócsányi, Ursula von der Leyen wrote that it was crucial for the European Union to be surrounded by “stable, safe and prospering” nations, thus the Union must have an active presence in these countries.

Blog

László Trócsányi wurde offiziell zum Kommissar für Erweiterung und Europäische Nachbarschaftspolitik ernannt

Sep 11, 2019 - Zoltán Kovács

Der frühere ungarische Justizminister László Trócsányi wurde offiziell zum Kommissar für Erweiterung und Europäische Nachbarschaftspolitik ernannt.

Blog

László Trócsányi officially named EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement

Sep 10, 2019 - Zoltán Kovács

Former Minister of Justice, László Trócsányi has been officially nominated as EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement.

News in Brief

László Trócsányi holds "constructive" talks with Ursula von der Leyen

Aug 30, 2019

Ursula Von der Leyen has started conducting interviews with commission candidates even though Italy has yet to propose a nominee due to its ongoing political crisis.

News in Brief

FM: Old commission was the biggest problem for the EU

Aug 30, 2019

The Foreign Minister said that over the course of its five-year tenure the outgoing Commission has made a series of security and economic policies detrimental to European interests such as contributing to the worsening of the migration crisis, opening its borders and inviting millions of illegal immigrants who pose an obvious security threat.

News in Brief

PM Orbán meets with Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels

Aug 02, 2019

PM Orbán said they had agreed at the meeting that migrants should not be released into the EU while they are awaiting a decision on asylum. Rather, a humane solution should be found that ensures the safety of citizens. Also, they agreed that migrants who come to the EU illegally should be sent home.

Blog

Unlike Weber, von der Leyen accepted our support and rose to victory

Jul 17, 2019 - Zoltán Kovács

In a dramatic vote in the European Parliamentary yesterday evening, Ursula von der Leyen was elected President of the European Commission by a margin of just nine votes. While the political right stood behind her and the left opposed her nomination, it’s clear that those thirteen Fidesz-KDNP votes were vital to her election.

News in Brief

Hungarian EPP MEPs vote in von der Leyen as European Commission President

Jul 17, 2019

Fidesz MEP Balázs Hídvéghi said that while casting their vote, Hungarian MEPs of the European People’s Party gave her advance confidence but also have firm expectations.

News in Brief

Cabinet Chief: EC needs a leader who respects countries in Central Europe

Jul 08, 2019

PM Orbán asked Ursula von der Leyen whether, as the candidate for the position of EC president, she was prepared to give the appropriate degree of respect to Hungary and Central European nations - von der Leyen promised she would.

News in Brief

V4 scores sweeping victory with UVL nomination to head European Commission

Jul 03, 2019

“Neither Manfred Weber, nor Frans Timmermans cared for the interests of eastern Europe. Fortunately, we succeeded in stopping them,” said Viktor Orbán regarding the results of yesterday’s European Commission summit.

News in Brief

State Secretary: V4 solidarity has rejected Timmermans as EC President

Jul 02, 2019

“We need someone who brings the member states of Europe together into a union, not one who divides them,” Zoltán Kovács said.

News in Brief

State Secretary: Frans Timmermans is George Soros's man

Jul 01, 2019

Zoltán Kovács said the Hungarian government would do everything it could to prevent such an outcome.

News in Brief

PM Orbán: EPP would be making “historic mistake” in helping Frans Timmermans become EC president

Jul 01, 2019

The Hungarian government would regard the appointment of Frans Timmermans as European Commission president “unacceptable”, a government official said, adding the reason why was that the candidate was backed by the Social Democrats and George Soros.

News in Brief

State Secretary: EC must accept migration should be stopped rather than managed

Jun 25, 2019

Zoltán Kovács said respecting the basic ideas and practices of Christian culture on which the ethos of the European Union is based is key to fulfilling Hungary’s standpoint on sovereignty and migration.

Blog

Same old, same old from the European Commission

Jun 05, 2019 - Zoltán Kovács

The European Commission’s latest country-specific reports have just been published. It’s same old, same old from Brussels.

News in Brief

FM Szíjjártó: Electing the new Commission president won’t be easy

May 27, 2019

The FM said the greatest challenge ahead is whether Europe can be turned into a strong integration of strong nations, whether we can defend Christian culture and whether, with respect to migration, “the term ‘to manage’ can be replaced with the term ‘to halt’”.

News in Brief

Hungarian government to go ahead with prenatal subsidies despite EC concerns

May 13, 2019

The Hungarian government is committed to launching the prenatal support scheme on July 1st, 2019

News in Brief

EC raises Hungary's GDP forecast for both 2019 and 2020

May 08, 2019

The European Commission has raised Hungary’s GDP growth forecast to 3.7 percent for this year and 2.8 percent for 2020

News in Brief

POLITICO publishes correction over false justice figures

Apr 29, 2019

"Friday's Playbook has been updated to correct a reference to figures released by the European Commission on trust in countries’ justice systems," read POLITICO's apology

News in Brief

European Commission still hasn't reimbursed Hungary's costs for border protection caused by migrant crisis

Apr 09, 2019

The European Commission has yet to reimburse Hungary half of the costs it incurred in additional border defense spending since the 2015 migration crisis

Blog

Brussels admits that suspected Syrian terrorist F. Hassan received EU-funded bank card

Apr 08, 2019 - Zoltán Kovács

At the end of February, in its response to the Hungarian Government’s information campaign, the European Commission admitted that it “funds a program run by the UNHCR for prepaid debit cards for refugees and asylum seekers”.

News in Brief

Hungarian government demands answers from European Commission over migrant bank cards

Mar 29, 2019

Did Brussels know that a Syrian terrorist leader had been given a migrant bank card? Were they aware that they were “funding an executioner of the Islamic State?” István Hollik asks

Blog

PM Orbán: Take migration and border protection away from the Commission, give them back to the national governments

Mar 23, 2019 - Zoltán Kovács

Drawing on the remarks of other prominent political figures at this weekend’s Budapest Summit on Migration, including former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán concluded that migration and border protection competences should be returned to the EU’s member states and delegated to an independent council comprised of EU interior ministers.

Blog

Take the issue of migration away from the European Commission, says Prime Minister Orbán

Mar 11, 2019 - Zoltán Kovács

The prime minister has called for setting up a new European council of ministers of interior to take responsibility for migration and Schengen Area issues, a strong body that would handle these matters as experts, rather than politicians.

News in Brief

PM Orbán: The European Commission should be stripped of migration as a policy area

Mar 04, 2019

The prime minister said a new professional body under the authority of Schengen-zone interior ministers should take over the responsibility of migration

Speeches and Remarks

The Government’s response to the communication issued by the European Commission

Mar 04, 2019

Blog

Did the European Commission just say that Hungary is performing better?

Mar 01, 2019

Yes. They’ve got a lot of good things to say about Hungary’s success.

News in Brief

Brussels has in effect made a confession that its concepts of migration would indeed increase migration to Europe

Feb 27, 2019

Zoltán Kovács, the state secretary for international communications and relations, said the government regards Brussels' steps toward migration as dangerous

Blog

You have the right to know: Brussels and the never-ending story of the migrant quota

Feb 27, 2019 - Zoltán Kovács

On Monday, the European Commission issued a response to the government’s communication to Hungarian citizens that “everyone has a right to know what Brussels is planning.” The Commission response was published online in Hungarian as “Facts about the EU’s migration policy” and features an illustration (again in Hungarian) that says “You also have a right to know what is fact and what is fiction.”

News in Brief

The EC's approach to migration is “diametrically opposed to the wishes of the government and the people of Hungary"

Feb 26, 2019

Zoltán Kovács said that the Hungarian government has repeatedly addressed the commission’s “attempts to hide the plans and ideas” still on the table regarding illegal migration

Blog Prime Minister

PM Orbán: Hungarians have the right to know what’s going on in Brussels

Feb 22, 2019 - Zoltán Kovács

In his regular Kossuth Rádió interview this morning, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán spoke about the European Parliamentary election campaign, the importance of informing Hungarians about Brussels’ plans and touched upon the early responses to the government’s latest pro-family package.

News in Brief

Links between the “Soros network” and the European Commission are obvious, says state secretary

Feb 20, 2019

Szabolcs Takács said in Brussels on Tuesday that the links are obvious due to the EC’s immediate attack against an information campaign by Hungary’s government

News in Brief

The EC raises its projection for Hungary’s GDP growth to 3.4 percent in 2019

Feb 08, 2019

In a relatively low estimate, the European Commission has predicted that there will only be a 2.6 percent growth in 2020, due to a slowdown in global growth

News in Brief

Hungary turns to EC over Austria's benefit cuts for foreign workers

Jan 15, 2019

Pál Völner said the interests of Hungarian workers come first, and the government does everything in its power to make sure their rights are not infringed upon abroad

Blog

Just how long have the pro-migration forces in Brussels been scheming about a migrant quota?

Jan 14, 2019 - Zoltán Kovács

Some claim that the notion of a pro-migration lobby is nonsense, that Brussels came up with the migrant quota for the sake of Member States and in response to the crisis that erupted in 2015. This idea that there are forces at work in the background driving an agenda to enable migration to Europe rather than stop it – this idea, some say, is the stuff of conspiracy theories. If you’re one of those who still believe it’s nonsense, let me show you something interesting.

News in Brief

EC pays out 4.4 billion euros in development subsidies to Hungary in 2018

Jan 08, 2019

Tamás Schanda said that Hungary has now drawn 31 percent of all its subsidies for the 2014-2020 period (9,000 billion HUF), “far above” the EU average of 27 percent

News in Brief

FM: The EC must make every effort to reach an agreement on Brexit

Oct 15, 2018

Péter Szijjártó, minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said Britain’s exit from the European Union spells bad news for the bloc

Blog

Commissioner Avramopoulos speaking on migration doesn’t represent the whole of Europe

Oct 01, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

Last week at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos, an unelected public servant who is charged with representing our common EU standpoint, presented his own views as if they were the common, European policy. That’s a problem. “This man is our employee,” said Prime Minister Orbán. “It is his duty to represent us.”

News in Brief

FM: The European commissioner for migration, home affairs and citizenship “is going completely against the will of Europe’s nations”

Sep 27, 2018

Although the European Commission is trying to force it, there are a number of member states that have no desire to become “immigrant countries,” the foreign minister said

News in Brief

Hungary confirms its "Stop Soros" law will go ahead despite criticisms

Sep 20, 2018

The EC launched infringement proceedings against Hungary because of the “Stop Soros” legislative package and the related constitutional amendment in July

News in Brief

FM: The next EU budget should be negotiated with the new commission

Sep 03, 2018

Mihály Varga has said the next EU budget should be negotiated with the new commission that comes into power in 2019

News in Brief Prime Minister

PM Orbán: Every European country has the right to protect its Christian culture and the traditional family model, as well as reject immigration

Jul 30, 2018

During his speech at the 29th Balvanyos Summer University in Baile Tusnad (Tusnádfürdő), PM Orbán insisted that Europe’s current leaders were “inadequate” and incapable of protecting the continent from migration

News in Brief Prime Minister

PM Orbán: The European Commission‘s days are numbered

Jul 27, 2018

The prime minister said the future EC should not punish countries that protect the EU’s borders. He added that Hungary is among the world’s most politically stable countries because of its border policy

News in Brief

European Commission launches infringement procedure against Hungary over the “Stop Soros” package of laws

Jul 20, 2018

“As long as the Fidesz-Christian Democrat alliance is in government, Stop Soros and the constitutional amendment will remain intact, because the Hungarian people have made it clear that they do not want Hungary to be made into a country of immigrants,” the ruling Fidesz party said in a statement

News in Brief

The European Commission is planning to cut cohesion funding for Hungary by a quarter from 2021

Jul 18, 2018

The EC is planning to cut more than 17.9 billion euros from Hungary's cohesion funds

News in Brief

European Commission says it will examine Hungary’s new legislative package to determine whether it falls in line with EU law

Jun 22, 2018

An EU commission spokesman said on Thursday that it will also take the Venice Commission’s opinion into consideration when evaluating the new law

Blog Prime Minister

PM Orbán on the V4: ‘We have never been stronger than we are now’

Jun 22, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

In his regular Friday morning interview on Hungary’s public radio, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán talked about the Stop Soros package, migration, a “disturbance in the force” within the EU, and the Visegrád Group. “We have never been stronger than we are now,” he said, referring to yesterday’s Visegrád Four plus Austria summit.

Blog

Here’s why Hungary rejects the latest draft of the 2021-2027 EU budget

Jun 19, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

For starters, it uses the common budget for political gains, gives funds to rich countries and takes from the poor, and uses OLAF as a means of political blackmail.

News in Brief

European Commission improves its predictions for Hungary’s economic growth

May 07, 2018

The Commission’s growth forecast is higher than predicted in its autumn report, therefore acknowledging that Hungary’s growth rate is to exceed that of the EU

News in Brief

Hungary's FM: We must regard the linking of EU funding to the rule of law as fiction

May 04, 2018

Péter Szijjártó, minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said the laws and treaties that are in effect clearly set down the rights and obligations of member states, and they are the same for everyone

News in Brief

Hungarian MEP critical of new EC budget plans

May 03, 2018

Hungarian MEPs are divided over a new mechanism included in the European Commission’s budget proposal for 2021-27, which could penalise member states that undermine the rule of law

News in Brief

European Commission poll finds a large number of citizens think the integration of migrants has failed

May 02, 2018

The EC posed the following question to all 28 Member States: Generally speaking, how successful or not is the integration of most immigrants living in [your country]?

News in Brief

Western Europe accuses Hungary of breaching judicial independence because it represents a different stance on migration and border protection, says minister

Mar 12, 2018

Central Europe remains skeptical about the idea of multiculturalism because from its perspective it isn’t working particularly well in western Europe, says minister of Justice

Blog

The Commission’s country report on Hungary: A political report from a political body

Mar 12, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

The European Commission released last week the biannual country report on Hungary. Aside from a few words of praise for the government’s role in Hungary’s economic turnaround, what we find is a disappointing list of old issues and a clear attempt on the part of the Brussels bureaucracy to influence the outcome of Hungary’s upcoming parliamentary elections.

News in Brief

Brussels is interfering in the Hungarian election campaign and is using its country report to help the opposition, claims minister

Mar 08, 2018

The minister of state for Government Communication said the aim of the Brussels report is to place pressure on Hungary and to achieve the downfall of the government and replace it with a “pro-immigration cabinet that is acceptable to Brussels”

News in Brief

Hungary says the rule of law procedure instituted by the Commission against Poland is unjustified and legally unfounded

Feb 28, 2018

According to the minister of State for EU Affairs at the Prime Minister’s Office, the Commission's goal is to put political pressure on Warsaw, and Hungary rejects this in the strongest possible terms

News in Brief

Hungary’s foreign minister has officially protested over the negotiations on the UN’s Compact for Migration

Feb 26, 2018

Péter Szijjártó, minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, made his feelings known in a letter to the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini

Blog

And what did the European Commission have to say about former PM Tudose’s outrageous remark?

Jan 16, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

Hungarian state television M1 asked for a reaction, and here’s what they got from the Commission spokesperson

News in Brief

Hungary will veto EC's decision to trigger Article 7 against Poland

Dec 21, 2017

Hungary's Deputy PM said the government will continue to stand firmly by Poland and that “we shall defend Poland in the face of an unfair, fabricated political procedure”

News in Brief

FM Szijjártó: Tusk has spoken the truth with regard to the mandatory relocation quotas

Dec 14, 2017

The minister welcomed the fact that, finally, a serious European leader, the president of the European Council, has labeled mandatory relocation quotas for what they are: ineffective and divisive

Blog

Yes, Mr. Commissioner, quotas are ‘divisive’ and ‘ineffective’

Dec 13, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

In preparation for Thursday’s EU summit, President of the European Council Donald Tusk has circulated a note to EU leaders saying that “the issue of mandatory quotas has proven to be highly divisive and the approach has turned out to be ineffective.”

News in Brief

EC awards Budapest's Dohany Street Synagogue European Heritage site status

Dec 08, 2017

The European Commission announced that the 158-year-old synagogue, the largest in Europe and the second largest in the world, would be added to the list of 38 heritage sites next year, joining the likes of Italy’s Fort Cadine and Slovenia’s Javorca Church

News in Brief

EC's infringement proceedings in relation to Hungary’s legislation on foreign-funded non-governmental organizations is unfounded

Dec 06, 2017

Pál Völner, ministry of Justice’s Parliamentary State Secretary, said the government had responded to the commission in writing stating that the Hungarian legislation does not contravene either EU or international law

News in Brief

Soros held meeting with MEP responsible for resettlement quotas just days before EP vote

Nov 20, 2017

Antal Rogán said that the European Commission states that immigration via the Mediterranean has slowed with the onset of winter, therefore 50,000 immigrants should be “brought in” from Turkey and distributed across central Europe

News in Brief

EU should contribute to cost of Hungary's border fence, says minister

Nov 17, 2017

Hungary stands by its position that the European Commission should contribute to the costs of the country’s border fence

News in Brief

Brussels criticizes 'Soros' national consultation questionnaire as government receives strong response from public

Nov 17, 2017

János Lázár, the minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office revealed that 1,295,000 Hungarians had sent back the consultation questionnaires which is a remarkably high number, and clearly demonstrates that the people want to state their views on the matter

News in Brief

Hungary's government office chief: Attempts by factions in the European Parliament to shame and undermine Hungary are intensifying

Nov 10, 2017

At the request of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, an intelligence assessment has been completed concerning Soros’s activities in Berlin and Brussels and the extent to which Soros has succeeded in influencing opinion against Hungary

News in Brief Prime Minister

PM Orbán meets with EC Commissioner to ensure Hungary becomes leader in digitalization efforts

Nov 10, 2017

In the Parliament Building on Thursday morning, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán met with EC Commissioner for a Digital Single Market Andrus Ansip who praised Hungary’s programs aimed at major digital developments

Blog

Brussels shoots itself in the foot with crackdown on Hungarian NGO transparency

Oct 12, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

Their credibility just took another blow. It’s difficult to take seriously this latest move by the European Commission.

News in Brief

The European Commission could punish EU member states if they reject the "Soros plan"

Sep 27, 2017

In a 2016 draft proposal, the European Commission recommended that member states that refuse to participate in the mandatory resettlement of illegal immigrants should pay a so-called solidarity fine of 78 million HUF (250,000 EUR) per rejected migrant

News in Brief

Hungary's struggles with Brussels over migrant crisis have only just begun, says state secretary

Sep 14, 2017

“Brussels may launch a lawsuit against Hungary in the days to come because of [its opposition to] the mandatory migrant quotas, the struggle over immigration has but just begun," Pál Völner said

News in Brief

PM Orbán tells Jean-Claude Juncker that his “interpretation of solidarity conforms neither to EU law nor the historical traditions of Hungary”

Sep 08, 2017

"I’d like to repeat the Hungarian government’s request that the European Union pay half the cost of Hungarian measures, including the fence, aimed at protecting the common Schengen borders,” PM Orbán said

News in Brief

Hungary's border fence is not only protecting the country but also Western Europe, says foreign minister

Sep 05, 2017

“Hungary has incurred over 800 million euros in costs and expenses relating to border protection tasks, and we are justified in expecting the EU to refund part of this expenditure based on solidarity," Hungary's foreign minister said

News in Brief

EC rejects request for border fence contribution but government still insists on it

Sep 04, 2017

The cost so far has been an enormous unforeseeable expense for the Hungarian budget amounting to 270 billion HUF. The government still hopes that Brussels will make a contribution to this cost

News in Brief

Hungary's foreign minister says the country opposes the double standards set forth by the European Commission

Sep 01, 2017

"We reject that the European Union should apply double standards in relation to anyone; we are regrettably observing that the European Commission is applying double standards in relation to Poland very intensively. This is unacceptable," Minister Szijjártó said

News in Brief

Hungary extends state of emergency due to mass immigration by six months until March 7

Aug 31, 2017

“During the summer it was proven that the threat of terrorism in Europe has increased as a result of mass immigration, and accordingly strict border controls continue to be necessary in the interests of the security of the Hungarian people," Hungary's government spokesperson said

News in Brief

Top European court’s advocate general says Hungary's migrant resettlement challenge should be dismissed

Jul 27, 2017

Hungarian politicians denounce the advisor's report as politically charged, lacking legal arguments and 'fitting the Soros plan'

News in Brief

European Commission has launched a “witch hunt” against several central European countries that offer solutions to migrant crisis

Jul 21, 2017

Hungary's foreign minister has said the European Commission has attacked several central European countries that speak about European challenges openly and honestly

News in Brief

EC to conduct "show trial" against Hungary over migrant distribution quotas

Jul 14, 2017

Pál Völner, state secretary at the Justice Ministry, pointed out how the EC had not launched infringement procedures against all member states that have refused to comply with the scheme

News in Brief

Hungary has one month to respond to EC infringement procedure over the law on transparency of foreign-funded NGOs

Jul 13, 2017

The EC said it has sent Hungary a letter of formal notice, which officially launches the procedure

News in Brief

Hungary defends itself against criticisms from The Economist newspaper

Jul 07, 2017

Hungary's government spokesman said that contrary to the narrative of The Economist, democracy is doing just fine in Hungary. Elections remain free and fair

News in Brief

Hungary criticizes Brussels for not taking terrorism seriously

Jun 15, 2017

Why is the European Commission not holding a meeting about how to manage the most serious threat of terrorism? Hungary's foreign minister has asked

News in Brief

The V4 group "stands united" on the issue of migration

Jun 13, 2017

The 2015 EU decision of issuing a migrant quota to every member state “is unacceptable because it goes against common sense and because it infringes upon EU treaties”

Blog

Here’s what’s really behind the debate with Brussels over Hungary’s national consultation

Jun 12, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

As the government announced last week, preliminary results of Hungary’s national consultation are in, and the number of responses received sets a new record.

News in Brief

MEP says Soros “has sent an open declaration of war” to Hungary following Brussels speech

Jun 02, 2017

Tamás Deutsch said that it had become apparent from a speech where Soros compared Hungary to a mafia state that he was ready to take any anti-democratic step to ensure the Hungarian government’s defeat

Blog

“Eurodame” to the rescue!

May 23, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

“This is the kind of doublespeak Hungary is seeking to combat,” I said in response to a reporter’s recent inquiry about a video produced with the support of the European Commission. “[W]hile everyone should be complying with EU regulations, propaganda materials supporting migration are being made from EU money.”

News in Brief

Hungary welcomes German and Italian calls for EC to establish border protection mission in Libya

May 18, 2017

“The Hungarian government fully agrees with the proposal, especially in view of the fact that 42,500 illegal immigrants have arrived in Italy as of mid-April, and many more are expected to set out for the continent with the arrival of good weather," Hungary's foreign minister said

News in Brief

Hungary's former Socialist government lands the country an 18 billion HUF fine by European Commission

May 15, 2017

The EU has determined major discrepancies with relation to eight contracts concluded between 2003 and 2009. This is the second largest sum that Hungary must repay following the corruption scandal relating to the Metro 4 project

News in Brief

European Commission raises Hungary's GDP growth forecast to 3.6 percent

May 12, 2017

The EC’s projections are below the government’s forecasts for GDP growth of 4.1 percent in 2017 and 4.3 percent in 2018

Blog

Frans Timmermans must respect the dignity of Holocaust victims

May 10, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

Political debates can get nasty. A certain amount of give-and-take comes with the territory, and as a spokesperson, I’ve experienced it firsthand. There are red lines that should not be crossed, though, and assailing the dignity of the victims of mass genocide crosses the brightest of them. Every reasonable person, including European Commission Vice President Timmermans, should know that no matter how deep the political disagreement, Holocaust victims should not be exploited as weapons in such a fight.

News in Brief

Hungary’s Tibor Navracsics says EU is experiencing one of the hardest periods of its history

May 09, 2017

The European commissioner for education, culture youth and sport said that securing economic growth and promoting a stable, peaceful European community will remain in the focus of the European Commission’s efforts during the remainder of its mandate

News in Brief

Hungary will respond to Brussels' unjustified attack on National Consultation

May 08, 2017

“The goal of the Brussels attacks is for fewer people to sign the National Consultation," Bence Tuzson said, adding that despite this interest is high, the people of Hungary realize that these are important issues and around 900,000 people have already returned their filled out National Consultation questionnaires

News in Brief

Frans Timmermans should resign, says Hungary's foreign minister

May 05, 2017

Timmermans' accusation is unfair and unacceptable. Hungary “has done more than anyone in Europe to combat anti-Semitism"

News in Brief

Hungary defends itself against migrant pressure from Brussels

May 04, 2017

Hungary does not wish to change its immigration regulations, and if the Brussels Commission launches legal proceedings the government is ready to fight the resulting legal battle

News in Brief

European Commission takes legal action against Hungary over law on higher education

Apr 26, 2017

The Commission sent a letter of formal notice to Budapest, to which the Hungarian authorities have one month to respond

News in Brief

Frans Timmermans' comments surrounding Hungary's amended law on higher education are "pathetic accusations"

Apr 13, 2017

Laws cannot be suspended, but this does not mean that there is no solution. The parties must engage in talks, and the prime minister has appointed Kristóf Altusz to lead the negotiations, Hungary's government spokesperson said

News in Brief

Hungary has no intentions of closing down CEU, but Soros tries to politicize the issue

Apr 11, 2017

The Hungarian government is not closing down any universities, and that includes the Soros university. All the Hungarian government would like is for every university to enjoy a level playing field, and if someone would like to enjoy special privileges, such as issuing a diploma from outside Europe, then there must be an international agreement concerning that fact

News in Brief

EC says Hungary has a healthy economy

Mar 28, 2017

István Székely, director of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs, said Hungary's stable economy belongs to the "healthier half” of the EU member states

News in Brief Prime Minister

PM Orbán calls President Putin after EC agreement on Paks II nuclear power upgrade

Mar 08, 2017

Hungary aims to replace the four reactors currently operating at the Paks site, which were constructed in the 1980s and account for approximately 50 percent of Hungary's domestic electricity production

News in Brief

European Commission approves Hungary's Paks II nuclear power investment

Mar 06, 2017

Hungary aims to replace the four reactors currently operating at the Paks site, which were constructed in the 1980s and account for approximately 50 percent of Hungary's domestic electricity production

News in Brief

Hungary to build secondary line of defense along Serbian border

Feb 24, 2017

A “significant number” of illegal migrants could arrive in Hungary in 2017. The government will increase the budget of the interior ministry by 38 billion HUF (123.5m euros) to facilitate the construction of the second barrier

News in Brief

The European Commission praises Hungary's 'solid' economic performance

Feb 23, 2017

In the 2017 Country Report, the EC said Hungary had made “some progress” in reducing the tax wedge for low-income earners and facilitating the transition of fostered workers to the primary labor market

News in Brief

European Commission launches infringement procedure against Hungary

Feb 16, 2017

The procedure has been launched regarding legislation on retail food sales and stepped up another on measures dealing with environmental noise

News in Brief

European Commission raises Hungary's GDP growth forecast

Feb 13, 2017

The EC revealed the findings in its 2017 winter economic forecast, an upward revision from the 2.6 percent growth predicted in its earlier autumn forecast in November

News in Brief

Former mayor of Budapest to face parliamentary committee over M4 corruption scandal

Feb 07, 2017

Gábor Demszky's lawyer said the former mayor would cooperate with any investigation and has nothing to hide

News in Brief

Hungary improving environmental performance

Feb 07, 2017

The EC cited floods as the biggest environmental problem along the Danube and Tisza rivers, while air pollution was named the main challenge in Budapest and other parts of Hungary

News in Brief

Hungary's Paks nuclear power upgrade awaiting nod from European Commission

Feb 01, 2017

Rosatom's CEO Alexey Likhachev said that everything is still in the planning stages and the team are awaiting the nod from the EC, which he predicts will come soon

News in Brief

Hungary repairs relations with Serbia

Nov 21, 2016

Both governments and both prime ministers have done much to replace an earlier tense relationship with one of cooperation

News in Brief

Hungary's nuclear power plant to be expanded after EC approves Russian deal

Nov 18, 2016

The Paks II plant will be refurbished and expanded after the EC closed the infringement procedure brought against Hungary

News in Brief

Hungary referred to EU Court of Justice over mobile payment service

Nov 18, 2016

The EC said the exclusive right granted to state-owned company Nemzeti Mobilfizetési to provide mobile payment services is an unjustified obstacle to the provision of services in the single market

News in Brief

Hungary brings forward call for EU funding tenders

Oct 18, 2016

Hungary’s government could call tenders for all European Union funding available for the 2014-2020 funding cycle by next spring

News in Brief

The European Commission 'takes note' of Hungary's referendum

Oct 03, 2016

"We believe it is for the Hungarian government to decide how to deal with the outcome of this national referendum," the European Commission has said

News in Brief

TODAY'S REFERENDUM: Hungary's historic vote on the EU's migrant quotas

Oct 02, 2016

The referendum's question is "Do you want the European Union to be able to prescribe the mandatory settlement of non-Hungarian citizens in Hungary even without the consent of Parliament?"

News in Brief

New EU plans push forward with forced migration quotas

Sep 28, 2016

Hungarians are expected to vote in record numbers on Sunday during the historic October 2 referendum, where voters are expected to reject the forced migration quotas imposed upon them by the EU

Blog

Yes, there is a quota plan out there and that’s the reason for the October referendum

Sep 26, 2016 - Zoltán Kovács

As Hungary’s referendum on Brussels’ mandatory migrant relocation quotas approaches, there’s a particular question that crops up repeatedly.

News in Brief

Brussels is sticking to its migrant relocation plan

Sep 20, 2016

“Brussels is powerless if the majority of a country stands behind its government," András Giró-Szász said

News in Brief

EU wants to resettle 120,000 migrants in Hungary

Sep 12, 2016

Hungarians must not “give up their right to vote” and ensure they have their say in the October 2 referendum

News in Brief

Hungarian government to lower VAT on internet services

Sep 09, 2016

VAT on internet services will drop from 27 to 18 percent in 2017, and to 5 percent in 2018

News in Brief

The EU hasn't faced this many challenges since World War II

Aug 30, 2016

The Visegrad Four (V4) group comprising Hungary, Slovakia, Poland and the Czech Republic is the tightest and most effective alliance in Europe and one that can help bring Europe out of its current troubles

News in Brief

The left is spreading lies to undermine referendum

Aug 30, 2016

The left is trying to invalidate the referendum initiated by the Hungarian government by spreading “unfounded and false news"

News in Brief

EU president wants to deny the people of their democratic voice

Aug 01, 2016

The mandatory relocation quotas are based on the “principle of stupidity”, and the people of Hungary have a right to their say

News in Brief

The EU continues its forced migration quotas

Jul 14, 2016

New plans unveiled by Brussels would impose the obligation on every EU member state to take in immigrants

News in Brief

PM Orban: Both the EU and the euro are in danger

Jul 11, 2016

PM Orban thinks the crisis in the EU was partly triggered by the opening of its borders to migrants, and because some member states let their budget deficits run high

News in Brief

EU finds Hungary in breach of aid rules

Jul 04, 2016

Two Hungarian fiscal measures based on progressive turnover rate structures were in breach of EU aid rules

Blog

PM Orbán on Brexit: It happened because of Europe’s failure to resolve the migration crisis

Jun 29, 2016 - Zoltán Kovács

As hideous terror attacks at Istanbul’s Ataturk airport draw attention away from this week’s European Summit and politicians struggle to find the appropriate response to the outcome of the Brexit referendum, EU leadership seems to be grasping for direction.

Blog

Here’s the problem with the twisted story from Brussels about how Hungary segregates Roma kids

Jun 20, 2016 - Zoltán Kovács

Infringement procedures – a legal tool designed to make sure European laws are harmonized – arise from time to time for all EU members states. It’s just part of life in a union comprising 28 countries and one set of European acquis.

Blog

No, this is not the “new normal”

Jun 10, 2016 - Zoltán Kovács

The Commission’s latest proposal on how to manage the migration crisis includes a plan that made our jaws drop.

News in Brief

EC investigation into Hungary's Roma children is inaccurate

May 27, 2016

Hungary has implemented its integration strategy consistently, and the results are already visible

News in Brief

PM Orban: The EU treats Poland unfairly

May 20, 2016

The European Commission continues its unprecedented investigation into the rule of law in Poland

Blog

Will Brussels Ever Wake Up?

May 12, 2016 - Zoltán Kovács

Jaws dropped across the European Union last week as the Eurocrats revealed their latest proposal. Whether it was in the way they dehumanized refugees by putting price tags on their heads or accused elected prime ministers of being undemocratic, the tendentious actions of the Eurocrats seem to be deliberately intended to alienate friends and supporters of the European idea. With the Brexit referendum just around the corner, Eurocrats would do well to exercise more restraint.

Blog

Score one for democracy: Hungary’s top court gives green light to referendum on migrant quota

May 06, 2016 - Zoltán Kovács

Hungary’s top court ruled this week in favor of the government’s plan for a referendum on the European Union’s mandatory migrant resettlement quotas. With the court’s decision, the last legal obstacle in Hungary has been removed

News in Brief

European Commission: Hungary's GDP to continue growth path in 2016 and 2017

May 05, 2016

European Commission predicts Hungary's GDP to rise even higher than originally thought

News in Brief

Every country has the right to decide on its own energy mix, says government commissioner on Paks

Apr 19, 2016

As the project to enlarge the Paks atomic power station continues, Hungary is acting in harmony with the EU’s energy policy considering that the European Commission itself is monitoring the maintenance of nuclear production capacity in the future, the government commissioner responsible for maintaining the capacity of the Paks atomic power station told the Hungarian News Agency MTI on Monday.