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CORONAVIRUS: Here's the latest

A regularly updated feed of the latest information about coronavirus in Hungary.

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PM Orbán: "We are on the verge of the hardest period of the pandemic"

“We had no choice," Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said, providing details of the tightened restrictions necessitated by the third wave of the pandemic.

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BREAKING! Here are the tightened restrictions in Hungary

Speaking at the weekly Kormányinfó event, Gergely Gulyás, the Minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office, announced that all shops must close between March 8 and 22, with primary schools and nurseries remaining shut until April 7.

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Hungary at the forefront of the EU in terms of vaccination rate

Hungary ranks third in terms of Covid-19 vaccination coverage in the European Union with only Denmark and Malta ahead.

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New restrictions could be introduced in the coming weeks

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Where does the EU money go? To small- and middle-sized farming businesses!

A recent report from the European Greens has a rather loose relationship with the truth when it comes to Hungary’s agricultural support regime. Here are some facts.

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PM Orbán: High level of preparedness ordered in hospitals

“The number of infections is expected to grow drastically in the next two weeks. This is why a high level of preparedness had to be ordered in hospitals,” PM Orbán said.

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Hungarian government decides to speed up the administration of COVID-19 vaccines

By freeing up all newly procured vaccines and those currently in stock, Hungary aims to double the speed of mass inoculation in an attempt to vaccinate as many Hungarians, as early as possible.

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Visegrád Four / V4

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News in Brief

PM Orbán: Procuring vaccines quickly is more important than cost

Feb 18, 2021

"There’s only one kind of vaccine: the kind which cures people quickly and effectively and to politicize this issue when people’s lives are at stake is irresponsible,” PM Orbán said.

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Justice Minister marks 30th anniversary of Visegrad Group

Feb 17, 2021

Minister Varga said on Facebook that thanks to the V4 alliance, the region has become the engine and fastest-growing area of the European economy in 30 years.

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FM: Euro-Atlantic integration is key to central Europe and Hungary’s future

Feb 15, 2021

The minister said Hungary was “proud of the successes achieved with its V4 allies”, also noting its membership in NATO and the European Union.

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V4 speakers hold online meeting to discuss parliamentary cooperation

Jan 13, 2021

Hungary’s House Speaker László Kövér said much pride could be taken in the V4’s 30 years of regional cooperation.

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China holds photo exhibition showing results of pandemic in V4 countries

Nov 20, 2020

China recently opened an exhibition at the Hungarian Cultural Institute in Beijing presenting photographs of the empty V4 capitals due to the pandemic restrictions.

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State Secretary: First wave of the pandemic had been handled very effectively by Hungary

Oct 29, 2020

The first wave of the pandemic had been handled very effectively by Hungary, together with the other Visegrad Group (V4) countries but the second wave is different, with a different pandemic situation.

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Virtuosos Talent Show to air in five countries

Sep 23, 2020

Beginning November 27, young classical talents from the V4 region plus Serbia can be viewed on Duna TV.

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V4 has a vested interest in keeping central Europe’s economy going

Sep 14, 2020

The prime minister said the Visegrad Group has a vested interest in keeping central Europe’s economy going while curbing the spread of the coronavirus.

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PM Orbán will today participate in a summit of V4 prime ministers in Poland

Sep 11, 2020

The V4 prime ministers are scheduled to assess novel coronavirus-related protection measures and address EU economic issues.

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PM Orbán: Economies of the V4 are hugely promising

Sep 01, 2020

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said Europe has failed to make decisions in recent years to boost its competitiveness.

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Hungary ranks 19th in NBH’s latest EU competitiveness report

Jul 29, 2020

In the NBH’s latest competitiveness report, Hungary’s score of 47.4 points on a scale of 0-100 is slightly higher than the average score of the other three Visegrad Group countries.

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Speeches and Remarks

Press statement by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán following talks among members of the Visegrád Four

Jul 06, 2020

3 July 2020, Warsaw (Warszawa)

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PM Orbán: The next task is to preserve jobs and restart economic growth

Jul 06, 2020

The prime minister said the Visegrad Group is concluding a “good year”, and has handled the coronavirus epidemic successfully.

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V4 warns against defense cuts

Jun 25, 2020

“The Hungarian government’s position is clear: the coronavirus epidemic will not impact development of the Hungarian military,” said Defense Minister Tibor Benkő.

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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.

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Speeches and Remarks

Press statement by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán following a meeting of heads of government from the Visegrád Four

Jun 15, 2020

11 June 2020, Lednice

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Coronavirus Update: PM Orbán highlights importance of V4 unity during pandemic

Apr 23, 2020

PM Orbán held a video conference with his Visegrad Four counterparts focusing on challenges facing Europe amid the coronavirus pandemic, as well as its economic ramification.

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PM Orbán: V4 countries are cooperating to fight the coronavirus

Mar 05, 2020

At a V4 meeting, the heads of government reviewed the risks and protective measures regarding COVID-19, and coordinated their governments’ actions.

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Survey finds V4 are aligned on a variety of issues

Jan 24, 2020

A survey has found that two-thirds of V4 voters believe their countries share a number of characteristics and are aligned on a variety of issues.

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Speeches and Remarks

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on the Kossuth Radio programme “Good morning, Hungary”

Jan 23, 2020

17 January 2020

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FM: V4 will not allow illegal migrants into central Europe

Dec 03, 2019

“The success and security of central Europe is thanks to our pursuit of a firm anti-migration policy, and this will endure,” the foreign minister added.

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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.

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House Speaker: V4 can no longer be ignored

Nov 19, 2019

László Kövér said the Visegrad countries have drawn the conclusion from the past 30 years that joint actions and close cooperation may provide them new opportunities in Europe.

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Blog Prime Minister

PM Orbán in Prague: We are Europe’s future

Nov 17, 2019 - Zoltán Kovács

“The cooperation of Central European countries is engraved in the hearts of Central European people,” Prime Minister Orbán said earlier today in Prague, adding that the upcoming years will be all about the success of Central Europe and the Visegrád Four. A few highlights from the PM’s speech honoring the 30th anniversary of Czechoslovakia’s Velvet Revolution, a peaceful transition of power that marked the end of the communist era.

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Visegrad Group agree on strengthening defense between the four countries

Sep 23, 2019

Defense ministers of the Visegrad Group agreed at a meeting in Ostrava on Friday that cooperation must be strengthened in all areas of defense between the four countries.

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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.

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V4 literature in focus at PesText International Literary Festival

Sep 12, 2019

The festival will be held in several locations, including the Petofi Literary Museum, Lumen Cafe and the A38 ship on the River Danube, between September 24th and 28th.

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PM Orbán attends Visegrad Group and Western Balkans summit in Prague

Sep 12, 2019

Talks will focus on the composition of the new European Commission, the EU’s next financial framework, as well as infrastructure, human resources, education, financial stability and climate change.

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V4 countries agree 2021-2027 EU budget cuts are “unacceptable”

Sep 10, 2019

Representatives of the Visegrad Group countries have stated that the planned 20 percent cut of European Union funding in the 2021-2027 financial cycle is “unacceptable”.

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FM: Visegrad Group countries are “fully in line” with Hungary’s national interests

Sep 06, 2019

The Foreign Minister said the V4 had remained successful despite efforts by the international media and the “political elite” to “tear it apart”.

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Finance Minister: Hungary’s economy grew three times faster than the EU average in the second quarter

Sep 02, 2019

The Finance Minister said that since the current government came into power in 2010, net wages have grown by an accumulated 85 percent, and the gross wage rise between 2010-2018 was the fastest among the Visegrád Four group states.

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Hungary and Czech Republic initiate V4 energy research platform

Jul 17, 2019

A special Hungarian-Czech Innovation Platform (CIP) will be established. This platform will provide V4 countries with the opportunity to work together on innovation and technological development, sustainable development and corporate social responsibility.

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PM Orbán builds relations with Estonia

Jul 09, 2019

Estonia's Deputy PM considers Hungary and the Visegrad cooperation as examples promoting important European values in debates on the future of the community.

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Kocsis: V4 is the most successful alliance in the EU

Jul 09, 2019

Máté Kocsis said the selection process of new EU leaders has proven that Hungarians will not support candidates who do not respect the Hungarian nation, Christian culture and are not committed to halting immigration.

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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.

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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.

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V4 hold meeting with President Macron in Brussels

Jul 01, 2019

PM Orbán was joined by Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, Slovak Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawieczki.

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EU in limbo after Brussels summit

Jun 21, 2019

Thursday’s EU summit in Brussels failed to find a compromise regarding its new leader. Government spokesman István Hollik said V4 leaders are “now more united than they had been five years ago.”

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Blog

Europawahlen 2019: Die Visegrad-Gruppe sendet eine klare Botschaft über die Zukunft der EU

May 31, 2019 - Zoltán Kovács

Mit ihrem überwältigenden Sieg am Sonntag sicherte sich die Fidesz-KDNP-Allianz unter Führung von Ministerpräsident Viktor Orbán 13 Sitze im Europäischen Parlament. Aber das ist nicht alles. Die große Gewinnspanne bei einer Rekordbeteiligung spiegelte einen wichtigen Trend in der gesamten Visegrad-Gruppe wider.

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PM Orbán attends V4 meeting with Angela Merkel

Feb 07, 2019

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán will attend the Visegrad Group heads of state summit along with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Bratislava today

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V4 are “pioneers” whose policies are now gaining a following among EU member states, says minister

Jun 27, 2018

Following a V4-Austria interior ministerial meeting in Budapest, Sándor Pintér said Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia see eye to eye in all areas

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Visegrad Four will remain united throughout the migrant crisis, says foreign minister

Sep 11, 2017

“We will continue to reject illegal migration and to fight against mandatory settlement quotas. We will not let them impose on us a failed and dangerous decision regarding the mandatory settlement quota," Hungary's foreign minister said

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Visegrád Four and Israel form a joint task force to fight terrorism

Jul 20, 2017

Prime Minsiter Viktor Orbán announced that the parties will also establish a joint task force to promote technological cooperation

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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

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Speeches and Remarks Prime Minister

Viktor Orbán’s statement to the press after the meeting between the prime ministers of the Visegrád Four and the Prime Minister of the State of Israel

Jul 20, 2017

19 July 2017, Budapest

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Viktor Orbáns Presseerklärung nach dem Treffen der Visegráder Vier und dem Ministerpräsidenten des Staates Israel

Jul 20, 2017

Budapest, den 19. Juli 2017

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Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets V4 heads of government

Jul 19, 2017

The V4, comprised of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, met with Israel under Hungary's presidency to discuss energy, innovation, and research and development

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Speeches and Remarks

Joint statement of the Prime Ministers of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia on dual quality of foodstuffs and other commodities

Jul 19, 2017

Same quality for the same product across the EU

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Joint statement on the occasion of the annual summit of the Prime Ministers of the Visegrad Group and the Prime Minister of the State of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu

Jul 19, 2017

Budapest, Hungary 19 July 2017

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PM Orbán and Hungary's foreign minister meet V4 and EU representatives to discuss western Balkans

Jul 11, 2017

V4 ministers and representatives from Croatia, Austria and Slovenia were in Budapest to attend a meeting with Péter Szijjártó, minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade

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Speeches and Remarks Prime Minister

Address by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán after a meeting between the President of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and the prime ministers of the Visegrád Four countries

Jul 06, 2017

4th July 2017, Budapest

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Hungary considers it an honor to hold V4 presidency

Jul 05, 2017

Brexit had demonstrated that the wills of member states cannot be overridden. Both the values and interests of Europe’s nations must be considered

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Speeches and Remarks Prime Minister

Joint Statement on the Occasion of the Summit of Prime Ministers of the Visegrad Group and The President of the Arab Republic of Egypt

Jul 05, 2017

Budapest, Hungary 4 July 2017

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Press statement by Viktor Orbán following the meeting of the Visegrád Group

Mar 06, 2017

Warsaw, 2 March 2017

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PM Orbán throws Hungary's support behind V4's position on future of Europe

Mar 03, 2017

Hungary “whole-heartedly” supports calls made by V4 leaders for strengthening national control over legislative and political processes in the EU

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Hungary holds talks with Slovakia to reinforce V4

Dec 06, 2016

A “stable and prosperous” economic cooperation between the Visegrad nations remains even amidst the current political and economic difficulties facing Europe

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Louder, clearer: the voice from this side of Europe

Apr 28, 2016 - Zoltán Kovács

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán visited Serbia recently as the country prepared for last weekend’s elections. The visit was all about strengthening Hungarian-Serbian relations at a time when, as many observers of recent geopolitical trends in Europe have said, the significance and influence of Central and Eastern Europe is changing.

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Hungary launches successful first stage of the V4 Bicycle Race

Apr 27, 2016

Hungary placed 13th in the first round of the race, but final placings will be decided following similar events in the remaining V4 nations

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Europe facing most serious challenges since the Second World War

Apr 18, 2016

“Europe hasn’t been subject to such serious security challenges since World War II and a unified and determined response must be provided to them,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó at the GLOBSEC conference in Bratislava.

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Relationship with Poland one of the Cornerstones of Hungarian Foreign Relations

Mar 21, 2016

“The relationship between Hungary and Poland is one of the cornerstones of Hungarian foreign relations; the friendship between the Hungarian and Polish people is a special relationship spanning many periods of history”, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said on Friday in Budapest at the Hungarian-Polish Business Forum.

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Prime Minister Viktor Orbán holds talks in Brussels with President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko

Mar 17, 2016

Before a meeting of the European People’s Party in Brussels, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán held talks with President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko.

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Funds Should Also be Provided for Defence Efforts of Balkan Countries

Mar 11, 2016

Hungary would primarily allocate funds towards the defence efforts of the Balkan countries against illegal migration. At the same time, Hungary is not opposed to Turkey being given a significant financial grant, the Minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office said at his press conference held on Thursday in Budapest.

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Italy Politically Blackmailing V4 Countries

Feb 19, 2016 - MTI

In Government Spokesman Zoltán Kovacs's opinion, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzo is politically blackmailing both Hungary and the V4. According to news reports he stated that EU subsidies should be reduced for the offending countries if they do not accept the mandatory resettlement quotas.

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News in Brief Prime Minister

A Second Line of Defense Needs to be Established

Feb 16, 2016 - Prime Minister's Office

At a press conference following a special summit of Visegrád Four (V4) prime ministers in Prague, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said that the policy the European Union has so far pursued in handling the migration crisis has failed, the external Schengen borders could not be protected, and therefore a new, second line of defence is needed.

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Speeches and Remarks Prime Minister

'We Must Discuss a Second Line of Defense' Says PM Orbán at V4

Feb 15, 2016

Following the meeting of the Visegrad Four, Prime Minister Orbán pointed to the need for a "second line of defense" between Turkey and Schengen. In the press statement, he also voiced support for Bulgaria's accession to Schengen.

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