State Secretary Árpád János Potápi said 2024 will be about “the nation of cooperation”.
In addition to strengthening and supporting the Hungarian institutional system abroad, the State Secretariat plans to build networks in all areas of life and implement programs aimed at promoting cooperation of these networks, the state secretary told a press conference. Similarly to last year, students participating in Hungarian language education in kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, as well as at universities beyond the borders, will be awarded a 100,000 forint (EUR 260) grant, he said. Around 12,000 Hungarian teachers beyond the borders will continue to receive support, Potápi added. The Sándor Kőrösi Csoma and Sándor Petőfi scholarship schemes will also continue to run this year after the participation of 132 youth in the schemes last year, Potápi said, noting that under the Kőrösi Csoma scheme 25 young Hungarians would begin their nine-month programme in the southern diaspora communities overseas next week. This year’s plan includes organizing the 9th meeting of Carpathian Basin Hungarian Entrepreneurs and economic forums in the region, the state secretary said. Building cooperation with local self-governments will also continue, he said, noting the establishment of 1,100 such partnerships so far in the Carpathian Basin. The program dubbed Without Borders supporting visits by Hungarian primary school seven-graders to Hungarian regions beyond the borders will be expanded to include a higher number of students. Last year 47,000 students participated in the programme, Potápi said, adding that the aim is to facilitate a visit for all of Hungary’s seven-graders to those regions. Asked about his “message” to the Hungarian community of Slovakia’s southernmost region ahead of the upcoming Slovak presidential and EP elections, the state secretary said the two ballots “will be the next test” of Slovakia’s Hungarian Alliance party. “Without joining together, a Hungarian community forming 8.5% [of the Slovak population] will not be able the clear the 5% parliamentary threshold,” Potápi said.