Foreign Affairs

World

Ukraine crisis: Hungarian foreign ministry reacts

Ukraine told Russia that a military invasion would be an act of war following a vote by lawmakers in Moscow...

EU

Barroso OKs Paks deal, provides “substantial observations”

A day after government sources revealed Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had sent in November 2013 an appeal and draft agreement...

EU

Barroso OKs Paks/Rosatom deal, provides “substantial observations”

A day after government sources revealed Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had sent in November 2013 an appeal and draft agreement...

EU

Hungary, eight other EU countries with negative population growth

According to a round of statistics from European Commission General Directorate Eurostat on population growth in 2012, some nine European...

Visits

Orbán to Barroso: Paks deal will strengthen EU energy security

Hungary’s agreement with Russia on the construction and financing of an upgrade to its sole nuclear power plant will support...

Visits

Foreign Affairs St. Sec: Ukraine sanctions unavoidable

Taking sanctions against Ukraine has become “unavoidable” to pave the way for peaceful talks and a political solution to the...

World

OTP Bank Ukraine closes six branches due to civil unrest

OTP Bank Ukraine, the Ukrainian unit of Hungary-based OTP Bank, has kept six of the bank's 140 branches closed on...

EU

15 million+ liters of tax-free pálinka distilled in 2013

For those wondering what possible impact beyond the cultural that a European Commission ruling on the tax-free status of private...

EU

EC officially announces assessment of Hungarian land law

European Commission (EC) spokesperson Chantal Hughes today said that the EC is analyzing Hungary's land act to determine if it...

Int'l Relations

Magnit attracts Hungarian foodstuffs

From the Budapest Business Journal print edition: Russia’s biggest FMCG retailer Magnit has tripled its purchases in Hungary over the...

EU

EC to arbitrate Austria-Hungary farm dispute; Fazekas miffed

Tension between Austrian and Hungarian agricultural ministries is escalating, with yet another salvo in the war of words fired from...

EU

Despite EU approval, Hungary vows fight on GMO corn

Hungary’s government will take all necessary measures to prevent the cultivation in Hungary of Pioneer’s 1507 genetically modified maize, the...

EU

ECJ to rule on excise tax-free pálinka distilling

The European Court of Justice is expected to rule on an issue near and dear to Hungarian hearts this week,...

Visits

Opposition blasts government for Iran holiday wishes

The left-wing opposition party coalition known as “Unity” lived up to its name this week, coming together to roundly criticize...

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...