Foreign Affairs

EU

Hungary makes aiding asylum-seekers a crime

Hungarian lawmakers pointedly chose the occasion of World Refugee Day, June 20, to approve controversial legislation that makes the promotion...

EU

Bill would require disclosure of acquisitions by ‘foreign’ investors

The government submitted a bill to Parliament late Tuesday that would require foreign investors from outside of the European Union,...

EU

Hungarians confident in EU, wary of corruption at home

Hungarians have greater confidence in European institutions than the EU average, while they are very critical of the level of...

EU

Hungarian householdsʼ material welfare trails regional peers

Hungaryʼs Actual Individual Consumption (AIC), a measure of the material welfare of households, was 63% of the European Union average...

Int'l Relations

Hungary redoubles efforts to improve competitiveness

The government is preparing an action plan to make Hungary more attractive for investments, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade...

EU

World Bank predicts 4.1% growth in Hungary in 2018

The World Bank has released its latest Global Economic Prospects flagship report, which forecasts GDP growth in Hungary of 4.1%...

Int'l Relations

Hungary, ExxonMobil sign strategic agreement

The Hungarian government and U.S. oil and gas company ExxonMobil concluded a strategic partnership agreement in Budapest on Friday. ExxonMobil...

EU

EC to fund motorway to the Romanian border

The European Commission has announced EUR 265 million in Cohesion Fund support for the construction of a section of motorway...

Int'l Relations

Pompeo reiterates importance of ‘vibrant civil society’

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó met U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Washington on Wednesday. Statements...

EU

EC draft budget cuts cohesion allocation to Hungary by 20%

The European Commission is allocating cohesion funds of EUR 17.9 billion to Hungary at 2018 prices in its EU budget...

EU

Hungarians working abroad above EU average

A little more than 5% of active Hungarians, a total of 339,000 people, were working in another EU state in...

EU

GKI raises 2018 GDP growth forecast

As GDP, earnings and consumption have grown faster than previously expected, economic research institute GKI has raised its 2018 GDP...

EU

EC highlights corruption, regulatory barriers in Hungary

The European Commission (EC) addressed a warning to Hungary Wednesday regarding “the existence of a significant deviation from the adjustment...

EU

ECB reviews Hungaryʼs euro convergence in biannual report

The European Central Bank (ECB) said Hungary needs "stability-oriented economic policies" and "wide-ranging structural reforms" in a report on the...

EU

Government to continue drafting air pollution strategy

Hungaryʼs government will continue implementing measures designed to reduce particulate matter in the air, as well as preparing a new...

Int'l Relations

Russia Expels Hungarian Diplomats in Retaliatory Move

Russia’s Foreign Ministry announced Thursday that it was expelling Hungarian diplomats in retaliation for Hungary’s recent expulsion of 10 Russian...

EU

EU Grants Hungary 1‑year Exemption from Gas Market Rule

The EC approved Hungary's request for a temporary exemption from an EU gas‑market regulation at the Serbian border, allowing the...

Germany Celebrates Fall of the Iron Curtain as a Joint Achievement

Germany’s new ambassador to Hungary, Alexander Schönfelder, took up his post in August. In his first interview with the BBJ,...

Hungary Signals Interest in Hosting 2036 Olympics

The Int'l Olympic Committee confirmed that Hungary is among seven countries engaged in ongoing dialogue and has formally expressed interest...

Russia Expels Hungarian Diplomats in Retaliatory Move

Russia’s Foreign Ministry announced Thursday that it was expelling Hungarian diplomats in retaliation for Hungary’s recent expulsion of 10 Russian...

Hungary’s EPPO Accession Advances With Budapest Talks

European Chief Prosecutor Laura Codruța Kövesi held talks with Hungarian officials in Budapest on the details of Hungary’s accession to...

EU Grants Hungary 1‑year Exemption from Gas Market Rule

The EC approved Hungary's request for a temporary exemption from an EU gas‑market regulation at the Serbian border, allowing the...

Magyar Invites Pope Leo XIV to Hungary After Vatican Talks

Prime Minister Péter Magyar invited Pope Leo XIV to visit Hungary during a private audience at the Vatican on Sept....

EU Project Pre-Financing Pushes August Budget Deficit to HUF 2.31 tln

Hungary’s cash flow-based general government deficit reached HUF 2.31 tln in August, driven overwhelmingly by pre-financing for projects supported by...

All Hungarian University Students to Regain Erasmus Access by October, Official Says

Hungarian university students will have the opportunity to participate in the Erasmus mobility program by October, with some able to...

ÁKK: Euro Adoption May Cut Hungary’s Debt Costs by 50%

The Government Debt Management Agency (ÁKK) says Hungary could reduce its financing costs after adopting the euro, lowering annual interest...

Hungarian Teen Detained Over Alleged Terrorist Threats After FBI Tip

Hungarian police have detained a 16-year-old boy in Győr on suspicion of making terrorist threats after the FBI alerted authorities...

Russia Pledges Response to Hungary’s Expulsion of 10 Diplomats

Russia will respond to Hungary’s decision to expel 10 Russian diplomats, Foreign Mininstry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Tuesday, adding that...

Hungary to Formalize Gift of Lipizzaner Horses to King Charles III

Hungary will formally gift two Lipizzaner horses to the UK's King Charles III, resolving an ownership issue after the animals...

40 Hungarian Tourists Safe After Wildfire Evacuation on Croatia’s Brač Island

A group of 40 Hungarian tourists evacuated from Milna on Croatia’s Brač island due to wildfires are safe, Hungary’s Foreign...

Magyar Says No Progress Yet in Hungary-Slovakia Dispute Over Beneš Decrees

PM Péter Magyar said Thursday that no progress had yet been made on disputed issues between Hungary and Slovakia, including...

CJEU Rejects Hungary’s Bid to Halt Russian Asset Revenue Transfers to Ukraine

The CJEU has thrown out an appeal by the previous Hungarian government against an EC decision to send aid to...