Foreign Affairs

EU

JP Morgan: Hungary may face deflation until Q3 2015

Analysts say most EU and Central and Eastern European countries will face deflation in the first half of this year,...

Visits

Orbán airs thoughts on Merkel, Putin, U.S.

Following two weeks of holiday from the public spotlight, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán gave an interview for state-owned Kossuth...

Visits

Orbán to return to airwaves on Friday

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is scheduled to make his first public appearance of the year on Friday, January 9,...

EU

Matolcsy: Hungary can expect rating upgrade

National Bank of Hungary (MNB) governor György Matolcsy said yesterday he expects Hungary to receive an upgrade of its sovereign...

Visits

Putin to visit Budapest

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is planning to meet Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in March, a month after German Chancellor...

World

Analyst: Forint’s slide not yet a concern

Although the Hungarian forint is trading around 320 to the euro, nearing record lows, there is no cause for serious...

Int'l Relations

Gov’t to continue signing strategic agreements

The Hungarian government is planning to sign strategic agreements with an additional six companies in Hungary — Ibiden Hungary, Le...

Int'l Relations

Foreign policy transformation reaches halfway point

The ongoing transformation of Hungary's foreign policy aimed at enforcing the country's economic interests more effectively has reached the halfway...

World

Szijjártó discusses energy in Moscow

Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó and Russia’s Energy Minister Alexander Novak yesterday discussed alternative ways of delivering Russian natural gas...

Visits

Bencsik: Conference focuses on Orbán’s ouster

A conference that included former Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány and American charge d'affaires André Goodfriend discussed the possibility of encouraging...

World

Szijjártó advocates ‘strong, stable’ Ukraine

Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said Hungary needs a "stable and economically strong Ukraine" following talks with his Ukrainian counterpart...

EU

MKB acquisition falls under EC scrutiny

The European Commission is set to review the transfer of ownership rights of MKB Bank from the state of Hungary...

Visits

LMP: Gov’t should step back from Paks

Although the government keeps talking about the Paks II deal in conundrum, apparently the plan is not working out well,...

World

Lázár ready to ditch Russia, use ‘war logic’

Cabinet chief János Lázár said that a €10 bln line of credit from Russia for new reactors at Paks does...

EU

Rail line renovation inaugurated

Southeastern Hungary saw the inauguration of a 32-km section of rail line after a renovation of HUF 39 bln expanded...

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...