News in Brief Justice Minister discusses cooperation with three NGOs Jan 13, 2021 The minister met with Nóra Király from the young family association Ficsak, from the green group she met Zöld Követ Egyesület and from the women’s rights association, Mindennapok Női Szemmel.
News in Brief PM Orbán urges EU talks on NGO transparency Jul 22, 2020 The prime minister said the transparency of “EU-funded, politically engaged NGOs which attack their own governments in an unacceptable manner” should be discussed at a later date.
Blog Hungary on ECJ ruling: We will continue to insist on the transparency of NGOs Jun 18, 2020 - Zoltán Kovács The European Court of Justice (ECJ) might not agree with the tools we put in place in 2017, but its latest ruling only shows that Hungary’s goal of increasing the transparency of NGO finances is, in fact, legitimate.
Blog NGOs in Transit: Dropping the objective façade May 06, 2020 - Zoltán Kovács Freedom House has just released its latest edition of Nations in Transit, its annual ranking of countries in former communist eastern Europe and Eurasia. They call it a “comprehensive, comparative, and multidimensional” study that provides “in-depth” data. The title of this year’s edition: Dropping the Democratic Façade.
News in Brief FM: The EU will launch a new operation to combat people smuggling Feb 18, 2020 The foreign minister said Hungary insists on the policy of suspending the operation and withdrawing ships from the region if it appears that migration is increasing as a result.
News in Brief PM Orbán calls on Soros-type civil organizations to leave central Europe Sep 30, 2019 “We are no longer prepared to finance from European money a multitude of hostile, Soros-type pseudo-civil organizations,” the Prime Minister said.
Blog You have the right to know: your taxpayer money will flow to the coffers of pro-migration NGOs Mar 05, 2019 - Zoltán Kovács In an essay published yesterday on the official Élysée website, President Macron calls “For European Renewal with a program based on freedom, protection and progress. “We should ban,” the president writes, “the funding of European political parties by foreign powers.” We need to protect our democracies against foreign powers seeking to manipulate them.
Hungarian NGO activists lobby MPs in the Dutch Parliament to put more pressure on Hungary Feb 15, 2019 Earlier this week, NRC Handelsblad in the Netherlands published an interview with Márta Pardavi, president of the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, under the title, “I understand if the Dutch are wondering why they give money to Hungary.” Just to be sure the readers know who Pardavi is, the Dutch paper points out that she was one of 28 on POLITICO Europe’s “Shaking, Shaping and Stirring Europe” list and leads an NGO that “provides legal assistance to asylum seekers.”
Blog It’s official: the EP is in the hands of the pro-migration clique Jan 17, 2019 - Zoltán Kovács Today will go down as a dark day in the history of the European Union. The pro-migration forces have asserted a majority in the European Parliament. They’re blackmailing Hungary and other member states that oppose immigration and are handing out EU taxpayers’ money to NGOs to promote and assist immigration.
News in Brief “We need to introduce additional measures to protect Hungary from illegal migration,” says Finance Ministry Jun 20, 2018 The government of Hungary has announced that the proposed tax law currently in front of Parliament proposes a 25 percent duty on organizations aiding illegal migration. The Government said that their goal with the new legislation is to help pay for expenses that illegal migration imposes on the Hungarian budget.
Blog Jerusalem paper exposes more anti-Hungary operations of the Soros network Mar 19, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács In case anyone continues to have doubts about whether George Soros blatantly interferes in political issues, here's yet more proof.
Blog How are NGOs supporting illegal migration? Part 2 Feb 28, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács Here are some examples of NGOs facilitating illegal migration in Hungary and Europe.
News in Brief A guidebook funded by George Soros provides advice to illegal migrants on how to mislead authorities Feb 27, 2018 György Bakondi said that several guidebooks including advice for migrants on what routes to follow and what to say if they are intercepted were first found in 2015
News in Brief Public debate on the Stop Soros legislative package is still underway, says minister Feb 06, 2018 Bence Tuzson, minister of state for Government Communication, said the draft bill will be put before parliament in late February and the goal of the legislative package is to “enact and enforce the overwhelming opinion of the people, and to take further steps to stop migration”
Blog How are NGOs supporting illegal migration? Jan 29, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács How are NGOs facilitating illegal migration? Here are some examples.
News in Brief The EU must be built on agreement among Member States rather than through “declarations and teachings” from western parts of Europe, says government spokesperson Dec 08, 2017 Zoltan Kovács said we must carefully shape the path for the further development of the EU in a way which duly takes account the different “heritages” of the individual countries and regions
Speeches and Remarks Prime Minister Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Kossuth Radio’s “180 Minutes” programme Oct 10, 2017 6 October 2017
Blog Hungary’s NGO crackdown is FAR(A) from the truth Oct 03, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács Well, isn’t that interesting? It seems the federal government of the US has taken exception to the activities of Russian-owned media outlet, RT, and will require RT to formally register as a foreign agent under FARA.
News in Brief Hungarian government launches new program to give financial aid to NGOs who help handicapped people and their families Aug 15, 2017 Civil organizations operating in Hungary are able to apply for grants up until Wednesday of this week to assist their efforts of combating isolation
Blog Soros group says ‘NGOs are non-partisan and do not engage in political activity’ Jul 07, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács Recently I responded to a EURACTIV.com interview with Heather Grabbe, the director of the George Soros-funded European Policy Institute, pushing back on claims that Hungary’s new NGO law discriminates and is closing the space for dissenting opinions.
Speeches and Remarks Prime Minister Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s reply to opposition comments on his address in Parliament before the start of daily business Jun 16, 2017 12 June 2017, Budapest
Speeches and Remarks Prime Minister Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s address in Parliament before the start of daily business Jun 16, 2017 12 June 2017, Budapest
Blog Illegal Migration: What is going on in the Mediterranean Sea? Jun 08, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács An interesting video surfaced recently in the deep corners of Youtube, a two-minute clip that uses open-source information on marine traffic to allegedly show how pro-migration NGO vessels are shuttling illegal migrants from the coast of Libya to Italy.
News in Brief Hungary open to constructive dialog with Council of Europe over NGOs and transparency May 09, 2017 Hungary's Parliamentary Speaker said it is important to underline that Hungary recognizes the significant contribution of non-governmental organizations to the promotion of common values and goals. These organizations also play an important role in the democratic control of the government and shaping public opinion
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 Government spokesperson says so-called NGOs are the problem, not charities or volunteer organizations Apr 25, 2017 “The problem isn’t with the some 60 thousand civic organizations operating in Hungary, but with so-called NGOs, which are trying to prove that they are true civic organizations," Zoltán Kovács said
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 Hungarian government open to CEU negotiations as Parliament holds session to discuss NGOs Apr 20, 2017 Meanwhile, Hungary's Parliament is in the middle of a four-day session over the legislation on the transparency of foreign-funded NGOs
Prime Minister Speeches and Remarks Interview with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on the Kossuth Radio programme “Sunday News” Apr 19, 2017 April 16, 2017
News in Brief Border security is the key to Hungary's homeland security Apr 18, 2017 Hungary's chief security advisor made the remarks in light of more than eighty people who have started demonstrations in the locality of Röszke. Bakondi said that a "Soros organization” arrived at the scene with organized transport
News in Brief Hungary holds parliamentary session to discuss NGOs Apr 18, 2017 Hungary's Parliament will hold a four-day session over the legislation on the transparency of foreign-funded NGOs
News in Brief PM Orbán: Migration stands in the focal point of current conflicts Apr 17, 2017 Prime Minister Viktor Orbán spoke to Kossuth Radio on Sunday to deliver an Easter message to the people of Hungary
Blog Hungary’s draft legislation would require NGOs to improve transparency Apr 11, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács Despite recent reports claiming that an “NGO crackdown” is under way in Hungary, the reported draft legislation confirms what the government of Hungary has been saying all along: this is about transparency in civil society. NGOs, not even those representing foreign interests, are not in jeopardy in Hungary.
Blog Is the European Union carrying out an NGO crackdown? Apr 10, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács Members of the European Parliament are so worried about the activities of certain foreign-funded NGOs that they’re calling for the EU to cut public funding for NGOs "demonstrably disseminating untruths". Others question "democratic legitimacy" of NGOs.
News in Brief Hungarian government has "always stood on the foundations of law" Mar 22, 2017 “The Hungarian government will not change its policies despite the pressure it is being put under; to us, Hungary comes first," Hungary's foreign minister said
Blog Prominent US and European think tanks taken in by the “NGO crackdown” ruse Mar 21, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács The government of Hungary is not the only one concerned about foreign meddling to influence domestic political outcomes, and we’re not the only ones who believe that it’s the citizens’ right to know.
Blog Transparency can be bought? Mar 06, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács Something strange is happening with Transparency International. The international NGO that made a name for itself for its “global coalition against corruption” has remained rather tight-lipped about why it decided in January to strip accreditation from its US affiliate, denying it the use of the TI name and logo.
News in Brief Hungary defends its now popular migrant policy during LIBE hearing Feb 28, 2017 The Hungarian government expects political conflicts in connection with the second line of defense and Hungary’s new regulations because certain NGOs promote a political agenda at odds with protecting Europe
Blog Putting the rights of illegals before the rights of European citizens is “insane” Feb 28, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács Yesterday afternoon, Hungarian Minister of Justice Trócsányi and I were invited to defend the Orbán Government’s policy on migration before the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs.
Blog Prime Minister ‘The Hungarian model is working,’ says PM Orbán, ‘but faces 5 threats this year’ Feb 27, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács As a result of the hard work of Hungarian people, Hungary once again stands before an “economic breakthrough,” said Prime Minister Viktor Orbán addressing the Parliament earlier this week at the opening of the spring session.
News in Brief Prime Minister PM Orbán: International organizations posing as civic groups ended up “murdering" Hungary's Olympic dream Feb 24, 2017 The campaign to collect signatures for a planned referendum on whether Budapest should host the 2024 summer Olympics ended up “murdering a dream”
News in Brief Hungarians should decide their future not Brussels Feb 14, 2017 The Hungarian government wants the people to decide on issues that define their future rather than “Brussels sneaking in legislation”
News in Brief WATCH VIDEO: Hungary's foreign minister says people should know if NGOs are funded from abroad Jan 31, 2017 The foreign minister said there was a clear demand for politics to be transparent. He argued that in this case transparency should be demanded of all organizations that influence public affairs, including NGOs, “because the people have a right to know whom these NGOs, whom these organizations actually represent”
Blog Civil society: not always what it’s cracked up to be Jan 25, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács The international press has been reporting that the Hungarian government is ‘coming down on Hungary’s civil society’, and once again they don’t have their story right.
News in Brief PM Orbán: Interests of NGOs must be made public Jan 16, 2017 The Hungarian government has said there must be transparency of civil society organizations and everyone has the right to know who is trying to influence public discourse