News in Brief State Secretary: Italy is not being hindered by Hungary’s veto but by the EU’s use of the rule of law Nov 26, 2020 Zoltán Kovács said Italy was getting damaged by the EU, not by Hungary, because Brussels was responsible for freezing post-pandemic support for economic recovery.
News in Brief PM Orbán: V4 support EU plan to help Italy Jun 16, 2020 Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has told Matteo Salvini, the leader of Italy’s opposition Northern League, that Hungary and other members of the Visegrád Group support the European Union’s plans to help Italy.
News in Brief Hungarian returning from Italy is quarantined Feb 26, 2020 Although the individual does not have a fever, they have reported feeling unwell. He has been transported to hospital and quarantined.
News in Brief Foreign Ministry: Thorough consideration needed before visiting Northern Italy Feb 24, 2020 Hungary’s foreign ministry says “thorough consideration” is needed before visiting Northern Italy due to the coronavirus epidemic.
News in Brief PM Orbán congratulates Giuseppe Conte on the renewal of his mandate as Prime Minister of Italy Sep 09, 2019 The Prime Minister reassured his Italian counterpart that the Hungarian government is ready to continue their joint work.
News in Brief Chief Security Advisor: Functioning of the Sea Watch 3 civil search and rescue ship off Italy is political provocation Jul 01, 2019 György Bakondi said this isn’t the first time that the ship has taken group after group of migrants to the shores of Italy “with the intent of political provocation” despite the ban imposed by the Italian authorities.
Blog PM Orbán on Matteo Salvini: His success in stopping illegal immigration is in our interest May 02, 2019 - Zoltán Kovács “Departing for Hungary to build a new Europe,” Matteo Salvini, minister of interior and deputy prime minister of Italy, tweeted this morning.
News in Brief The EU “passed political judgement” when it rejected the Italian government’s draft budget, says Government Spokesman Nov 23, 2018 Zoltán Kovács said the EU’s rules should apply equally to every member state, adding that whenever Italy and Hungary break the rules, they get sanctioned, but when France or Germany do it, they get off scot-free
News in Brief Italy's Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini attends revolution commemoration event in Rome Oct 24, 2018 “In Italy and Hungary, we are eager to change Europe for living a better life in Europe," Salvini said
Blog Prime Minister PM Orbán: Europe’s security depends on Salvini’s “historic mission” Aug 30, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács It is Matteo Salvini’s mission to prove that migration can be stopped not only on land but also at sea, said Prime Minister Orbán, adding that even though Hungary has already shown the world that immigrants can be stopped at the border, Brussels’ migration policy still focuses on “managing” the crisis instead of putting an end to the influx of intruders.
News in Brief Prime Minister PM Orbán: Illegal migrants should not be distributed among member states but turned back to their homelands Aug 29, 2018 Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has said the Italian interior minister is “the first Mediterranean politician that seeks to stop migrants
News in Brief Prime Minister Italy has Hungary's upmost respect over the migrant crisis Jul 16, 2018 The prime minister said the Hungarian government will not be participating in any kind of distribution of immigrants
News in Brief FM: Hungary extends appreciation to Italy for commitment to restoring the security of Europe Jun 13, 2018 Péter Szijjártó, minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, spoke with Matteo Salvini on Monday evening and underlined the importance of protecting Europe and its people
News in Brief PM Orbán: V4 to provide financial support to Italy to protect borders Dec 15, 2017 Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has announced that the Visegrád Four have decided to provide significant financial support and offer assistance to help Italy protect its maritime borders, therefore defending both Europe and Hungary
News in Brief Prime Minister PM Orbán: Italy must be helped to protect its borders Oct 20, 2017 PM Orbán suggested that to help Italy tackle migrants arriving from Africa, the establishment of a fund similar to the one previously set up for Turkey, where EU member states would contribute in a similar ratio, would be one solution
News in Brief MET Group expands its Bulgarian and Italian subsidiaries Aug 29, 2017 Through subsidiaries, MET is currently present in 15 countries: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, U.K. and Ukraine
News in Brief Migrant Crisis: Hungary says hotspots should be created on Libyan soil to vet asylum seekers before they reach Europe Jul 25, 2017 Hungary's foreign minister has called for the revival of an Austro-Italian initiative to get the EU to contribute to the protection of the southern Libyan borders
Blog Where have I heard this before? Jul 21, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács “Change is happening country by country,” said Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in a recent radio interview, “and after Italy we await the next member state to join our club.”
News in Brief V4 prime ministers send letter of support to Italian PM in light of growing migrant crisis Jul 20, 2017 The V4 are ready to contribute to Italian and European efforts aimed at halting the illegal flow of migrants from Libya and other parts of North Africa towards Europe – and especially towards Italy
News in Brief Hungary supports assisting those who are truly eligble for asylum Jul 17, 2017 The pressure from illegal migration is still not receding, and in fact a significant increase is being observed along both the Mediterranean migrating route and from Morocco to Spain
News in Brief Italy could open the floodgates for African migrants to head over to Europe Jul 12, 2017 Italy has threatened to close its ports to refugee rescue ships as it hits breaking point in the growing migrant crisis
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 NGOs are helping people smugglers ship migrants to Europe May 08, 2017 “People smugglers are getting migrants into Europe via the Mediterranean with the help of non-governmental organizations," György Bakondi said
Blog The troubling alliance between NGOs and human traffickers off Europe’s southern border Apr 29, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács An increasing number of reports indicate that non-governmental organizations are collaborating with human traffickers to illegally transport migrants into Europe, undocumented and unchecked.
News in Brief Italy has evidence that NGOs are helping people-smugglers ship migrants to Europe Apr 24, 2017 An Italian prosecutor says he has evidence that some of the charities saving migrants in the Mediterranean Sea are colluding with people-smugglers
News in Brief Hungary donates funds to restore Italian church damaged in earthquake Mar 09, 2017 Hungary has contributed 150 million HUF (500,000 EUR) to repair and restore the Church of the Sacred Heart and Saint Benedict after it was hit by an earthquake in the Italian town of Tolentino
News in Brief PM Orbán: The wave of illegal immigrants could be stopped if Italy changed its position on migration Feb 03, 2017 PM Orbán traveled to Malta for an informal European Union summit to discuss the recent global political changes and the migrant crisis
News in Brief PM Orbán approves 150 million HUF donation to rebuild Christian church Dec 24, 2016 “Europe’s future lies in recapturing its Christian roots which still constitute the most important community-building power that any town or country can have," PM Orbán said
News in Brief Italy's former foreign minister defends Hungary over EU criticism Dec 15, 2016 The former minister praised the Visegrad Four countries’ efforts in promoting “dialogue between the West and the East”, adding that Europe’s integration process could not have got started without the contributions of Budapest
News in Brief Hungary funds its own border fences, NOT the EU Nov 16, 2016 The Hungarian government did not construct a fence on the border out of EU monies “and especially not with Italian money”; we financed the fence from the budget, or “to make it more understandable for Matteo Renzi”, the people of Hungary are spending their own money on protecting the EU border, Hungary's foreign minister said
News in Brief The EU "won't take legal action" against countries who refuse migrants Nov 14, 2016 The EU is signaling it won't take legal action against countries that refuse to share refugees as long as the overall target number of people finds new homes
News in Brief Constitutional amendment is a 'national issue' and not about politics or economics Oct 28, 2016 The prime minister said that “the Seventh Amendment to the Fundamental Law of Hungary is an issue of national interest and cannot be linked to any party political debate or economic issue”
News in Brief Italy threatens to veto EU budget over central Europe's immigration stance Oct 26, 2016 Péter Szijjártó, minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said that the Italian prime minister “completely misunderstands the situation"
News in Brief Hungary to EU: We cannot support a resolution that does not reduce migration May 24, 2016 The EU’s proposal is a motivator for migration instead of being concerned about how to reduce migration into Europe