Slovakia’s parliamentary speaker has “clearly reaffirmed” that a planned new language law will not restrict national minorities’ right to use their mother tongue, Péter Szijjártó, the foreign minister, said in Bratislava on Monday.
As we wrote earlier, the New Slovak bill would ban Hungarian language use on trains, buses, trams, and post offices, details HERE.
According to a ministry statement, Szijjártó said after talks with Slovak parliamentary speaker Peter Ziga that Hungary’s government attaches great importance to the fate of ethnic Hungarians in Slovakia. Therefore, the government welcomes Slovakia’s view of the ethnic Hungarian community as an asset in advancing bilateral relations, he added.
“I received clear confirmation today from the speaker that the planned new language law regulation won’t endanger the right of national minorities on Slovakia’s territory to use their mother tongue,” Szijjártó said. He pointed out that he has worked together with Ziga for eight years and even considered him a friend, adding that he “cannot remember a single time when something didn’t pan out the way he said it would”.
Szijjártó said he and Ziga had agreed to stay in contact regarding any legislative process concerning language regulations. “So if either of us perceives a problem … we will talk promptly and take steps together,” he said.
Meanwhile, Szijjártó said cooperation between Hungary and Slovakia was the most successful it had ever been. He noted the contributions to each other’s physical and energy supply security, the Hungarian air force’s help in policing Slovakia’s airspace, and bilateral cooperation in the supply of crude oil.
“We are prepared to develop our ties further and to build more bridges over the Danube and the Ipoly,” he said.
Ziga said neither the Slovak government nor parliament wanted to change the status quo regarding national minority rights.
Instead, he said, they wanted to place even greater emphasis on improving living standards of ethnic Hungarians in southern Slovakia, mainly when it came to transport infrastructure.
Ziga underlined that the language bill’s text had yet to be finalised and would be subject to inter-ministry and government consultations before it was put to a vote in parliament.
Yesterday, Péter Magyar, leader of the Tisza Party, announced via a Facebook post that he would be holding an extraordinary press conference to reveal what he called the biggest political scandal in Hungary since the regime change. The press conference, titled “The Hungarian Watergate Scandal,” left many unsure of what to expect from the live broadcast.
Péter Magyar, Chairman of the Tisza Party, has made serious accusations against the Hungarian government, alleging that certain government members have conducted secret surveillance on him and his party. In his statement at the press conference, Magyar claimed that the Fidesz government operates a private secret service network to monitor him and his party colleagues and that they are preparing a smear campaign against the Tisza Party. According to Magyar, this campaign is built on information about his private life, which was allegedly leaked to a government website with the help of his former girlfriend, Evelin Vogel.
Source: Youtube / Magyar Péter Hivatalos
What to expect from the campaign against Péter Magyar
Péter Magyar made strong allegations against the government during Sunday’s press conference, accusing it of using AI-supported methods to defame him and his party. Magyar asserted that the campaign employs the latest technologies, including AI-edited audio and video, to discredit him and his associates.
Magyar further alleged that tens of millions of forints have been spent to prepare a smear campaign, with plans to release manipulated content on a website named Objectiv. According to Telex, the site is currently under maintenance; however, Magyar claims its purpose is to disseminate compromising, AI-generated content. As stated in his accusations, “Antal Rogán and his associates” allocated one billion HUF (€2,439,233) to edit Magyar’s public appearances using AI-based technology, with the intent to produce manipulated materials aimed at damaging his reputation.
Magyar also revealed that intelligence sources had informed him that listening devices had been installed in the Tisza Party offices and his own residence, although he admitted he lacked evidence to prove this claim. He called on Interior Minister Sándor Pintér to inspect the party’s properties and assets.
Photo: FB/Magyar
The Vogel Evelin audio leak
In one audio recording, Evelin Vogel is allegedly heard demanding 30 million HUF (€73,176) to refrain from “turning resentment into revenge.” She reportedly threatens to “explore other options” if her demand is unmet. This recording purportedly dates back to 16 June 2024. Three months later, Vogel gave an interview with Index, openly criticising her former partner, Péter Magyar, and sharing a very unfavourable view of the Tisza Party president.
Contacts and support from the Hungarian Government
Magyar further claims that his ex-wife, Judit Varga, along with Evelin Vogel, receives financial backing from Fidesz-aligned circles close to the Hungarian government. According to Magyar, this support is provided by IT entrepreneur György Vertán, who also allegedly offers Vogel accommodation in a property on Alkotmány Street. He contends that Varga and Vogel have taken on the role of making negative public statements against him.
György Vertán, owner and founder of Tigra Ltd., has denied Magyar’s allegations. According to 24.hu, Vertán stated that he does not finance Vogel but only provides her with temporary housing. He emphasised that he has no involvement in the political activities of the Tisza Party or in Magyar’s personal affairs and, as such, offers no political support.
Judit Varga, the former Minister of Justice under the Orbán government, is currently employed by Tigra Ltd., where she assists the company in its international expansion. Vertán confirmed this, adding that Varga receives standard employee benefits and performs her duties with diligence.
Vertán has also stressed that Tigra Ltd. has always maintained political neutrality, serving clients across the political spectrum. He stated that his company has received various public and private contracts over the years and intends to continue this approach.
The first Péter Magyar audio leak
The first audio recording emerged earlier than expected, surfacing in the media earlier today. According to Telex, the clip, apparently recorded after the June protest, captures Magyar making some heated comments about the demonstrators. He also seems to hint at plans to discredit Vogel publicly, suggesting that she has been unfaithful.
The Tisza Party responded quickly, labelling the recording a “manipulative attack.” They assert that the incident was orchestrated by Fidesz and Rogán’s associates, accusing Vogel of being a long-term Fidesz insider who had even been provided with an apartment by them. Magyar added that the objective of the recording was to damage the reputation of the opposition party.
Source: Facebook/ Péter Magyar
Tisza to expel Vogel, Magyar to file police report on ‘blackmail’
According to MTI, the leadership of the opposition Tisza Party has decided to expel Evelin Vogel, and party leader Péter Magyar will file a police report alleging blackmail, the party announced on Monday. Magyar said he had been aware “for days” of “attempts by the ruling party and [Cabinet Minister] Rogán’s propaganda team to discredit him” using “illegally obtained and digitally manipulated material.”
“The reason is that the party has a realistic chance of ousting the mafia government,” they said.
The party further claimed that “the recording in question is clearly edited and manipulated; at least one sentence is certainly not spoken by Magyar.” They also stated, “Vogel should rather tell the press how many tens of millions of forints she has received from Fidesz, and why she resides in an apartment provided by Fidesz deputy leader Gábor Kubatov and [billionaire entrepreneur] György Vertán.”
The European Union’s top diplomats responsible for policies regarding the Sahel region are meeting in N’Djamena for a two-day visit, the foreign ministry said on Monday. The visit will focus on the joint fight against terrorism, curbing illegal migration, and humanitarian aid within the framework of the Hungarian presidency of the Council of Europe.
According to the statement, Hungary will be represented by State Secretary Tristan Azbej, the head of the Hungary Helps programme, at the event initiated by the Hungarian presidency.
The statement said Hungary prioritizes the fight against terrorism, a root cause of migration, as a priority of its presidency.
“The EU’s security starts in the Sahel, as one of the greatest threats to Europe’s security is migration from the south,” it said.
The statement added that the Hungarian presidency is also focusing on the EU’s role in the Sahel and calling on the EU to take an active role in preserving Chad’s stability.
The ministry said Hungary had provided complex aid to Chad, including humanitarian, development, economic, and security cooperation, the latter aimed mostly at joint efforts to fight international terrorism. Chad and Hungary signed a strategic cooperation agreement on September 9 this year.
Ambassador Lászlo Eduard Máthé and Péter Kovács, director general of the Hungary Helps Agency, are also attending the event.
Justice Minister Bence Tuzson said in Budapest on Monday that Europe “is in big trouble” and that its competitiveness is lagging behind that of the US and China. This was ahead of a conference on competitiveness held in the framework of Hungary’s EU presidency.
Speaking ahead of the conference entitled Legal Competitiveness—Instruments of Law for a more Competitive Europe, which will be held in downtown Várkert Bazar from 11 to 12 November, Tuzson said the Hungarian presidency focused on competitiveness and saw legal and legislative work as of primary importance within that topic. The timing and structure of regulations are fundamental factors in competitiveness, and it is important that the issue is addressed on a European level, he said.
Tuzson lamented the EU’s “tunnel vision” regarding legislation’s impact on competitiveness. As an example, he pointed to GDPR’s effect on SMEs in the EU, saying they were at a competitive disadvantage compared with companies in third countries “to whom GDPR doesn’t apply and so they can be more competitive.”
Tuzson said the EU is also behind in digitalisation and AI, adding that they would be important tools in legal work.
“The EU still has a chance, but we are in the last minute” to catch up with competitors posing “an enormous global challenge” for the EU, he said, adding that the Hungarian presidency was working to facilitate that process.
Hungarian society has long been waiting for 24 December to become a public holiday in Hungary, like in seven other European countries, says Péter Balassa, Member of Parliament, who has again submitted a legislative amendment proposal to this end.
Péter Balassa (Jobbik) proposes an amendment to Act I of 2012 on the Labour Code to make Christmas Eve a public holiday.
There are currently public holidays in Hungary:
New Year’s Day – 1 January
1848-49 Revolution and War of Independence – 15 March
Good Friday – Easter cycle
Easter Monday – constantly changing date
Labour Day – 1 May
Pentecost Monday – constantly changing date
State Founding Day – 20 August
56th Revolution Day – 23 October
All Saints Day – 1 November
Christmas Day – 25 December
Christmas Day – 26 December
According to Péter Balassa’s proposal, Article 102(1) of Act I of 2012 on the Labour Code would be replaced by the following provision:
(1) Public holidays: 1 January, 15 March, Good Friday, Easter Monday, 1 May, Whit Monday, 20 August, 23 October, 1 November and 24-26 December.
In justifying his proposal, Balassa pointed out that
in December 2023, several retailers—mentioning only the biggest ones, such as Lidl, Rossmann, and Penny—backed the initiative, allowing their employees to spend Christmas Eve with their loved ones and families.
In fact, it is probably only a matter of time before the government proposes a resolution to declare 24 December a public holiday, which will be adopted as a proposal of its own. In Hungary, shops are rarely open on Christmas Eve, and usually only until noon, and public transport also switches to public holiday mode in the second half of the day, so it is, in effect, an unrecognised but official for many people public holiday.
This is the fifth time the proposal has been repeated, but the proposal to make Christmas Eve a public holiday was voted down yearly by a two-thirds majority of Fidesz, a party with Christian and conservative values.
According to the government’s explanatory statement, János Fónagy, Parliamentary State Secretary of the Ministry of National Economy (then the Ministry of Economic Development), stressed last year that All Saints’ Day was declared a public holiday in 2000 at the initiative of Fidesz, and Good Friday in 2017 at the initiative of Fidesz-KDNP.
Hungary has eleven public holidays, adding that any further increase in the number of public holidays should be carefully examined from the point of view of the economy’s capacity to cope with the economic burden.
More arguments for a public holiday
The arguments for the new holiday include that since 2017, Hungary has 11 public holidays, one day less than the EU average. Romania and Slovakia have 15 public holidays in neighbouring countries yearly, Croatia 14, Austria 13 and Ukraine 12.
According to Balassa, Fidesz’s argument that increasing the number of public holidays would weaken competitiveness and lead to a loss of GDP is not valid, since 24 December is undoubtedly the day when most of the income is generated by trade, but people can also schedule their shopping for other days, especially as shops are open practically all year round during Advent, including at weekends.
He also noted that the energy crisis is an important argument, as retail outlets’ overheads can be so high that the question arises whether it is worth keeping them open on this day.
Ultimately, this is a value choice: the government of a country that professes to be Christian should be sensitive to the need of Hungarian families to be together from 24 to 26 December. This period should be a time of peace, love, and intimate celebration,” concluded the MEP.
Last year’s opinion polls showed that
64-83% of Hungarians would support making Christmas Eve a public holiday.
“Donald Trump’s victory will primarily restore peace and broaden our economic possibilities,” Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said in an interview broadcast by commercial TV2 on Sunday night.
Hungary was a world centre this week
The prime minister added that “important achievements could be made, which would not be possible if the war (in Ukraine) went on, with a continued risk of Hungary becoming involved.”
Orbán said Hungary’s diplomacy “has not been as strong in the past 100 years”. The prime minister added that Hungary had not had “such strong influence in the world as now” especially considering Hungary’s small size.
While “they say so many things (about Hungary) in the West and it is difficult to tell what should be taken seriously … the problem cannot be too large if forty plus European heads of state will come to Hungary at the invitation of the Hungarian prime minister,” Orbán said referring to the recent European Political Community summit in Budapest. The prime minister highlighted the “efforts of many years” by European Affairs Minister János Bóka and Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó that contributed to the success of Hungarian diplomacy.
Photo: MTI
Orbán said similar European summits “could be met with disinterest” but the Budapest meeting was the first such occasion after the US presidential election, and it also had the EU competitiveness pact, as proposed by the Hungarian EU presidency, on its agenda.
Peace budget in the pipe
According to the prime minister, “it is certain” that the government would prepare a “peace time budget” under which “we will spend less on war-related items and we could afford a lot more measures aimed at prosperity for the people.”
Orbán said next year would see “an unprecedented” programme to promote small business, loans for employees, as well as “opportunities for cheaper, more affordable housing” and a maintained 13th month pension scheme. He said Trump’s election was bringing the world “an enormous step closer to peace”, adding that “now the whole world is speculating” how the new president would achieve that.
Source: Facebook / Orbán Viktor
Analysing the American elections, Orbán said the most important question is what will happen to Hungarians. “We Hungarians, the current Hungarian government must stand up for Hungarian interests,” he added. After Trump’s election, he said “we can achieve our interests and goals more easily than before, but only we can achieve them.” He warned however, that Trump is “not our saviour but our comrade-in-arms”. While Hungary “has often felt alone”, now “we are not alone anymore, the whole of America is with us, the American government,” Orbán added. “Everybody was surprised at Trump’s win,” Orban said, but he added that he had been “as certain as two and two make four”. He said people both in Europe and in the US were fed up with war, migration, and “this gender thing” and the Democrat administration was “pro-war, pro-migrant, and pro-gender”.
Orbán seeks a great agreement with the USA
Orbán said he was seeking to strike “a great agreement” between Hungary and the US.
Hungary and the US will need to sign an agreement to prevent double taxation, as the incumbent administration “has failed to renew the one that expired”, Orbán said, adding that he was seeking agreement with Trump “on some major economic matters”. “I think we will have to opportunity to do so,” he said.
Referring to the recent EU summit in Budapest, Orbán said participants had realised that “Europe cannot go on doing what it has done so far” and that it needed change. European leaders “so far giving Ukraine everything will now switch to the opposite”, he said.
“I wouldn’t want to see Europe being torn apart into opposing camps,” the prime minister said, adding that his goal was to “shift from a pro-war position to a pro-peace approach together”.
Competitiveness a key
On another subject, Orbán said “Europe would be on the losing side as long as it pays four times for gas and three times for electricity as its American competitor.” Within half a year, decisions resulting in a reduction in European energy prices must be made, he said. Speaking about an agreement adopted at an informal meeting of EU heads of state and government in Budapest on Friday, the PM said in Hungary households receive the cheapest gas and electricity in all of Europe, so this agreement will primarily be good for entrepreneurs, who pay very high prices in the same way as European entrepreneurs.
This is largely down to politicians, because the formulas used to set energy prices in Europe have been set up badly, he added.
Orbán pointed to an anti-bureaucratic revolution as a second step in the series of measures. He said that within half a year, the number of rules that clearly hinder free competition and the operation of companies must be radically reduced. He noted a new rule that no new legislation can be created that does not have a competitiveness test.
“It is disgusting that (people) in the Tisza Party wish for the death of pensioners,” Tamas Menczer, the communications director of the ruling Fidesz-Christian Democrat alliance, said on Facebook on Saturday.
Menczerquoted György Raskó, a supporter of the opposition party as saying on social media that “Tisza will benefit from the fact that many seniors, to the tune of hundreds of thousands, will no longer be voting at the next election.”
“It is not true that Raskó … would wish for the death of old people,” Tisza leader Peter Magyar told MTI, adding that agricultural economist Rasko had not been nominated by Tisza in last summer’s municipal and EP elections, nor was he a party member.
Recent polls foundthat the majority of the Hungarian voters below 40 would choose Péter Magyar’sTisza Party, while the majority of the voters above 65 would support Fidesz on an election. That is a new trend. Opposition parties were regularly more popular in the age group of people below 30, but losing the 31-40 group for Fidesz is something new.
Read also:
French President, Austrian chancellor offered help for PM Orbán’s biggest adversary Magyar – read more HERE
At his hearing in front of the expert committees of the European Parliament, Olivér Várhelyi said that if his candidacy for Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare was supported, he wanted to work towards improving citizens’ health by further building the European Health-care Union, “because cross-border crises like the coronavirus pandemic require joint solutions.”
Olivér Várhelyi failed his first hearing, had to answer in writing
Várhelyi, who has been EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement for the past five years, told the hearing that innovation in health care was a step towards a “strong, competitive and healthy Europe”. He said prevention through a “comprehensive approach and investment” would be a priority. He would also work to keep clinical research in Europe and strengthen it, especially in the diseases causing the most deaths in the bloc such as cancer and heart and circulatory diseases. By keeping research in Europe and by improving access to medical equipment, the EU’s autonomy would grow and its health-care industry would remain competitive, he said.
“I would like to ensure that treatments and medicine will always be at European citizens’ disposal whenever and wherever they need it.” Meanwhile, Várhelyi said he would also keep the EU’s food safety and animal health regulations the strictest in Europe, which is also a way to maintain farmers’ competitiveness.
According to Politico, “lawmakers refused to approve Várhelyi after his oral hearing on Wednesday — the only Commissioner so far not to be greenlit at this stage.” He received a lot of questions her had to answer in writing. HEREyou can read them with the replies.
He has until 12 November to convince the committees of the European Parliament.
Patriots for Europe support Várhelyi
The MEP delegation of Hungary’s ruling Fidesz-Christian Democrats (KDNP) and their party family, the Patriots for Europe, are standing behind Hungarian commissioner candidate Olivér Várhelyi, Fidesz MEP Tamás Deutschsaid on Facebook on Wednesday, ahead of Várhelyi’s hearing in the European Parliament.
Várhelyi proved his experience, professional knowledge and preparedness in his career so far, he said.
At the same time, “there is no doubt that professional knowledge will mean nothing to the EP’s leftist majority,” he said. “Even though the hearing is supposed to assess professional knowledge, we can expect the well-known ideological and political attacks.” Deutsch said there had been reports that “the Tisza delegation, the European People’s Party and its leader, Manfred Weber …
have made a pact with the other leftist groups to mandate a second hearing for Várhelyi, no matter what.”
Fidesz MEP blasts ‘EPP-left pact’ against Hungarian commissioner candidate
Csaba Dömötör, an MEP of ruling Fidesz, on Thursday criticised what he called “a pact between the European People’s Party and the left-wing EP groups” under which they were requiring Hungarian commissioner-designate Oliver Varhelyi to answer further questions rather than immediately confirming his nomination.
“It is a serious circumstance and characteristic of their democratic attitude that the decision on this was made before Oliver Varhelyi’s confirmation hearing,” Dömötör said on Facebook. “By doing this they have made the confirmation hearings a part of the regular political pressure campaigns.”
Dömötörsaid Várhelyi’s hearing had lasted three hours, and he had already demonstrated his experience and expertise. “It’s too bad the MEPs questioning him didn’t care about any of this,” he added.
“Europe deserves more than this. And so does Hungary. And democracy,” the MEP said.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Fidesz MEP Viktoria Ferenc in Brussels on Thursday, Dömötör said the left-wing majority of the EP had turned Varhelyi’s confirmation hearing into “a political circus”. Varhelyi spoke in detail about his plans to strengthen health care, launch prevention programmes and digital developments, and touched on animal welfare measures, he added. He also pointed out that Varhelyi had experience with how the European Commission operates, as he had filled a commissioner’s position in the past five years.
Dömötör said “this pact is a personal act of revenge” for Manfred Weber, the head of the European People’s Party, because Hungary earlier had not supported his candidacy for president of the European Commission.
Nevertheless, he said, he trusted that common sense would prevail in the end. MEP’s, he said, would realise that the new European Commission would have to start work as soon as possible.
Answering a question regarding the European Political Community summit currently being held in Budapest, Dömötör said the event disproved the claim that Hungary was isolated or that it was not possible to maintain balanced and strong relations with the leaders of several key countries at the same time.
“Hungarian diplomacy proves that this is possible,” Dömötör said, adding that the event “will deal with essential issues, rather than a political circus”.
Read also:
Informal meeting of EU heads of state and government approves Orbán’s initiative – read more HERE
We dicussed multiple topics with H.E. Emmanouil Apostolakis, Greece’s ambassador in Hungary who answered all our questions thoughtfully. We talked about his favourite Hungarian starter, main course, and dessert in a traditional Hungarian restaurant, some lesser-known gems Hungarian tourists should visit if they are in Greece, the changes in the trade relationships between Greece and Hungary, the ongoing conflict in Israel and Ukraine, the Greek origins of the Hungarian Holy Crown and the omnipresent elegance of Budapest’s great historic past. We also asked the ambassador’s opinion about the most picturesque tourist attractions in Hungary.
DNH: You’ve been in Budapest for over a year now. What expectations did you have when you first arrived, and how have you found your experience with the Hungarian people?
H.E. Emmanouil Apostolakis: From the moment I set foot on Budapest I was impressed by the beauty of this amazing European metropolis. And this feeling becomes stronger every day. Indeed, Budapest is a marvelous mix of remarkable architecture, buzzing cultural life and loads of interesting people, many of which have honoured me with their friendship since my arrival. All this combined with the unique Danube setting and the omnipresent elegance of Budapest’s great historic past renders this city extremely pleasant to live and work.
Photo: Embassy of Greece in Budapest
DNH: How would you characterise the relationship between Greece and Hungary?
H.E. Emmanouil Apostolakis: The bilateral relations of Greece and Hungary are traditionally friendly and the co-operation between our two countries constructive, as it usually happens with countries that enjoy longstanding historic bonds. Moreover the centuries-old presence of Greek nationals in Hungary, apart from contributing to the city’s development and cultural diversity, also serves as a solid bridge of friendship between our two countries and peoples. Let me remind you that the presence of Greek diaspora in Hungary dates back to the early Hungarian Kingdom and its traces can be found even in the lower part of the Hungarian Holy Crown, which has Greek inscriptions and is thought by many experts to have originated in workshops of Constantinople, the Byzantine capital.
Our cooperation is fruitful also in multilateral context, as we are both members in the EE and NATO. Of course, as it is often the case between friends and allies, we do not see all issues eye to eye, however Greece always respects its partners and allies and based on its principled foreign policy seeks constructive and mutually beneficial compromises.
Photo: Embassy of Greece in Budapest
DNH: Migration is certainly a significant shared concern, with Greece being a border country, and we all remember the images of large numbers of migrants arriving in your country. What is the situation like now, and what is your stance on the EU’s migration quota?
H.E. Emmanouil Apostolakis: Being countries with a long historic past and rich cultural background is not the only thing Greece and Hungary have in common. Our two countries do also share the challenge of being front line states, with a duty to protect their borders that are also EU borders. Allow me in this point to remind your readers that Greece was the first country, back in March 2020, to experience and effectively counter, to the benefit of both Greece and Europe, the hybrid threat of instrumentalization of migration flows.
Big fence and big door required to deal with migration
Having said that, let me point out that Greece is following a tough but fair migration policy, with a strong emphasis on the external dimension of migration and border protection , while at the same time the Greek Coast Guard has saved thousands of lives at sea. Moreover, two equally important pillars of our migration policy are effective returns and, of course, legal migration. Indeed,
we need both a big fence and a big door to deal with migration,
i.e. it is important for the EU, apart from defending its external borders, to establish legal, organized, pathways to migration, for both humanitarian and economic reasons.
Photo: Embassy of Greece in Budapest
We are happy to see that during the last years Europe’s migration policy is coming much closer to the Greek positions. The external dimension of migration, the protection of European borders, the new Pact on Migration and Asylum constitute successes of Europe and are developments that are close to the relevant Greek positions, providing for fair-sharing of responsibility and solidarity between EU member-states.
DNH: Hungarian foreign policy can be quite divisive. On one hand, the government is pushing for a peace mission in Ukraine, while on the other, it strongly supports Israel in seeking a military solution. What is your perspective on these two conflicts?
H.E. Emmanouil Apostolakis: You referred to the two major war fronts next to Europe. The Greek position is again one of principle on both questions.
Ukraine’s defence against Russia’s illegal war of aggression is also legitimate resistance against revisionism. This is a war that concerns all of us and on this basis the Greek support to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people is unwavering. Unconditionally rejecting revisionist policies wherever they come from is the only way to serve and promote longstanding peace.
Coming to the Middle East, Greece remains firmly committed to an immediate ceasefire, humanitarian access to Gaza, unconditional release of hostages and a two-state solution. It is absolutely imperative to prevent a spillover, which will be a serious global threat.
UNSC member
DNH: In June, we heard the news that Greece had been elected as a member of the UN Security Council for 2025-2026. This is a major diplomatic achievement, but what does it mean for Greece?
H.E. Emmanouil Apostolakis: Indeed, Greece will be an elected member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the next two years. We are grateful that the members of the UN, with their recent vote, entrusted us with a third stint in Greece’s history in this major UN body. Three words of Greek origin but of universal meaning will guide Greece’s tenure on the Security Council: “Dialogue, Diplomacy, Democracy”.
Greece serves as a key pillar of stability and democracy both in the Balkan region and the wider Southeastern Mediterranean, supporting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all states and condemning revisionism wherever it comes from. As an elected member of the UNSC, Greece will spare no effort in order to ensure that the opinions of all States are heard and respected, as well as to promote consensus and build solutions to global challenges, in line with the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter and the respect for international law. We aspire to become a stabilizing actor in the Security Council, and a constructive bridge between South and North, between West and East.
DNH: Hungary currently holds the EU Presidency. What opportunities does this offer for Greece, and what outcomes do you anticipate during this period?
H.E. Emmanouil Apostolakis: Greece is sparing no effort in order to contribute to the safeguarding and promotion of the EU common values and goals. In this context we are constructively cooperating with the Hungarian presidency, working together to advance the significant priorities set by it, that we share and support. For example, both countries fully share the need for a merit-based enlargement policy -one of the major priorities of the Hungarian Presidency-, as well as the assessment that the European path of the Western Balkans is crucial for establishing regional peace and prosperity. Indeed promoting the European perspective of the Western Balkans, in full respect of the European acquis, international law, and the principles of democracy and the rule of law, has always been a main goal for Greece, and we outlined this stance more than twenty years ago, when, by virtue of the so called “Thessaloniki Agenda” in 2003, Greece led the way for the integration of the Western Balkans into the European family.
DNH: Which areas of trade and investment between Greece and Hungary show the greatest potential for growth and how can businesses in both countries take advantage of these opportunities? Specifically, what Greek products are most commonly found in Hungary, and which Hungarian products are most popular in Greece?
H.E. Emmanouil Apostolakis: As I mentioned before our bilateral co-operation is good, including our bilateral economic relations, with the value of bilateral trade volume exceeding the EUR 1 billion mark in 2023. However there is much room for further improvement, also in light of the fact that both economies are on a growth trajectory, putting emphasis on promoting foreign trade and investments. Moreover, our economies are characterised by complementarity as they largely produce goods that meet each other’s needs. In addition, European policies promoting interconnectivity create great potential for enhancing bilateral trade and developing transit services, given also the fact that our two countries are linked by two new Trans-European Corridors. Finally Greece’s role as an energy hub in its broader region, as well as its successful investments in Renewable Energy Sources, that made Greece a world leader when it comes to the penetration of wind and solar, creates many opportunities for constructive cooperation also in the energy sector.
Coming to specific Greek products in the Hungarian market, one can find a quite broad variety of food products, such as the internationally known olive oil, an integral part of the famous Greek gastronomy, which, given its purity and nutritious value, can be considered a major super food. Moreover tasty Greek cheeses, including the Greek feta cheese, can be found in the shelves of the Hungarian super markets. Other popular Greek products in Hungary are fresh fruits, as well as canned fruits which are in high demand. Finally some very good Greek wines can be savoured in the many restaurants, in particular the Greek ones, of Hungary. Apart from food, Greek exports include among others construction materials, e.g. we have excellent production and technology in the field of aluminium and its products.
Regarding Hungarian exports to Greece, the main products are industrial, such as cars, telephone devices, and screens. Moreover processed meat products have a notable presence in the Greek market, while Hungarian wines are also exported to a lesser extent. Finally, the famous Hungarian porcelains are known to a segment of Greek consumers and can be found in some specialized exclusive stores.
On investment, there is scope for growth. Ιn Hungary there are about 60-70 companies of Greek interests (mixed and purely Greek), mainly in the tourism (agencies) and trade (food/drink import) sectors, as well as in the industrial, transport and service sectors.
Needless to say that promoting trade and economic cooperation is a major goal for us, and the Embassy’s Economic & Commercial Office is working on that in order to further enhance the contacts of the business communities of our two countries through targeted business meetings, visits to sectoral exhibitions, etc. so that the business people themselves can explore the relevant various possibilities of investments and joint ventures.
DNH: Greece is a popular destination for Hungarian tourists, and we are familiar with the main holiday hotspots. Could you suggest any lesser-known gems that are worth visiting?
H.E. Emmanouil Apostolakis: Indeed, Greece has the privilege to be a major tourist destination and its tourism sector is booming. I believe there are numerous reasons for that. Apart its natural beauty and rich history, Greece managed over the last years to further advance its touristic product and to offer impeccable infrastructure and services together with competitive prices. Moreover the unique Greek gastronomy and the lively way of life are additional reasons to vote for Greece on your holiday plans. Furthermore various alternative forms of tourism have been developed in Greece over the last years (among others cultural tourism, religious tourism, oleotourism, wine tourism, health tourism, sports tourism etc), covering the needs of all kind of visitors. And last but not least the famous Greek hospitality, accurately reflected in the word “philoxenia”, the Greek word for hospitality which means literally being a friend to a stranger.
We are grateful to Hungarians for making Greece one of their top holiday choices [In 2023, 522,000 Hungarians visited Greece: 69% increase in the number of travelers compared to 2022]and we look forward to warmly welcoming more friends from Hungary and showing them the meaning of the Greek hospitality!
Before coming to my personal lesser- known holiday gems in Greece, let me stress that, given its mild climate that makes the country a 365- day destination, it is worth visiting Greece all year round, and not only in the Summer. In particular winter sports enthusiasts will be thrilled to discover the state-of-the-art infrastructure for winter tourism in Greece, including the existing 17 ski resorts.
Moreover, given the fact that Greece is a country dotted with numerous historic churches and monasteries, it could be of interest to our Hungarian friends to participate in the amazing experience of touring the country in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul and conclude this unique trip by climbing to the Meteora Monasteries (the Greek word Meteora means suspended in the air and aptly describes these spectacular Byzantine monasteries and their breathtaking landscape).
Of course, if you prefer to stick to the islands and the “deep Greek blue” there are various, less frequented but equally beautiful, destinations, such as the islands of Leipsoi, Kastelorizo, Nisiros, Symi, Irakleia and Chios. Finally some more suggestions for our Hungarian friends include the Region of Epirus with mountainous picturesque traditional villages, such as Zagorochoria, the Messinian mainland with olive groves, medieval towers and excellent local cuisine, or the second biggest Greek City Thessaloniki, with its famous Byzantine monuments, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, as well as its unique gastronomy and the nearby amazing beaches of Halkidiki.
DNH: On the subject of tourism, from a Greek perspective, what do you consider to be the most picturesque tourist attractions in Hungary?
H.E. Emmanouil Apostolakis: Let me first of all say that that Hungary over the last years has become one of the most popular tourist destinations for Greeks. It is a fact I witness every weekend during my regular strolls along the Danube, where I run to an ever growing number of enthusiastic Greek travelers. I believe that the existing Memorandum on Cooperation in the Field of Tourism between our two countries constitutes a solid basis for further promoting our relevant bilateral cooperation.
As far as my own favourite tourist attractions, I could not skip the stunning Szent Istvan Basilika, the Hungarian Parliament and the Heroes square in the Pest side, as well as the unique Buda Castle district in the Buda side. I think that all those are emblematic references of the amazing capital of Hungary. However the beauty of your country is not limited to Budapest. From Balaton lake to the beautiful castles in Visegrád, Eger and Fertőd, to Estergom and Veszprém, Hungary never fails to impress the tourist.
In conclusion, since you referred to your question to the Greek perspective, of particular touristic interest for me is to follow the imprints of the historic Greek Diaspora in your country in the 18t and 19th centuries, which can be traced all around Budapest. For example many buildings, of the 5th district in particular, bear witness to the presence of Greek merchants. The emblematic Széchenyi/Chain Bridge, was financed to an important extent by Georgios Sinas, who is commemorated below one of the lions on the Buda side of the bridge. His son, Simon Sinas, was the largest donor and founder of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences located on Széchenyi Square. On Vörösmarty square still stands the house of the Mouratis family, a member of which, Irene Mourati, was the mother of a Hungarian Prime Minister, Pál Teleki. On Váci street 26, you can see inscriptions with the name of prince Alexandros Ypsilantis, who started the fight for Greek independence in 1821. After his effort was suppressed, his fighters were helped by the Hungarian people. The Greeks of Hungary were grateful for this and fought on the Hungarian side during the 1848 revolution. Overlooking the Danube, on Petőfi tér, stands the impressive and graceful Church of the Holy Assumption of the Virgin, which was built at the end of the 18th century by wealthy Greek merchants. Memories of this Greek presence live on in other places too, such as Szeged, Ηódmezővásárhely, Szentendre, Szentes and even Tokaj where Greeks were involved in the wine business two hundred years ago. Moreover the Greek presence in Hungary is not only just matter of history. About 5,000 Greeks still live in Hungary today and are officially recognized as one of the country’s national minorities. So in particular for Greeks visiting Hungary, the picturesque village of Beloiannisz (about 45 kms to the south of Budapest), built in 1952 on land which had once been owned by the Sinas family and having served as “home” for many Greeks that after the civil war of 1946-49 arrived in your country, remains always an important destination. Having said that, I would like to take this opportunity to express Greece’s gratitude for the warm hospitality and support provided by Hungary to the Greek minority, which has always served as a bridge of friendship between our countries and peoples.
DNH: What major cultural events or initiatives took place during this year 2024 or can be expected later this year or in 2025?
H.E. Emmanouil Apostolakis: In the beginning of this year concluded with great success an exhibition organised at the initiative of our Embassy entitled “Poetry in Stone. Classical Greece through the lens of Robert McCabe”. The exhibition, which took place in the emblematic National Széchényi Library, presented 48 selected black and white photographs by the internationally renowned American photographer Robert McCabe, portraying Greece’s history, culture, and natural beauty. It was a successful cultural event that attracted the interest of the Hungarian public and contributed to further strengthening the longstanding historic bonds between the two countries and peoples.
Moreover, Greece after some year of absence, participated again in 2024, in the 14o Festival of Films Francophone, with the film “Where we Live” by the prominent Greek director Sotiris Goritsas. We are planning to participate again in 2025 in this important cinephile event in Budapest.
Last but not least, I would like to add that Greece will support the activities of the Department of Greek Language and Literature of Eotvos Lorand University, whose contribution by both Greece and Hungary over the years to the promotion of the Greek language and culture is highly valued
DNH: Finally, a question we ask all ambassadors: When dining at a Hungarian restaurant, what would your choice of starter, main course, and dessert be?
H.E. Emmanouil Apostolakis: When arriving to a new country I always enjoy exploring the local cuisine, and also through becoming more familiar to the customs and heritage of a nation. By now I can say that I am a big fan of the Hungarian gastronomy. For starters in a restaurant I like to choose different kind of delicacies from the Hungarian countryside, such as cheeses and famous Hungarian charcuteries. My go-to order for a main course is the famous goulash soup. As for the dessert, although I don’t have much of a sweet tooth, I never say no to a good somlói galuska. And of course there is always a broad selection of tasty Hungarian wines to accompany any meal.
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Hungary has never had such a strong and undisputable ally than Donald Trump who after being elected the next US president was to call Viktor Orbán first among European leaders on Wednesday, the communications director of the Fidesz-Christian Democrats said.
Trump and Orbán are extremely close allies
Donald Trumphas become president of the United States, Menczer said, the man who referred to Orban as “a leader who defends his country” many times during his election campaign.
He noted on Facebook that the biggest-ever two diplomatic events in Hungary’s history were taking place in Budapest on Thursday and Friday, with the leaders of Europe discussing the issue of the continent’s security and ways of enhancing its competitiveness. “They are doing so aware of the fact that the new US president and the Hungarian prime minister are extremely close allies,” said Menczer, adding that the Ukrainian president, too, considered it important to travel to Budapest.
Photo: FB/OrbánViktor
Europe ‘more, bigger than EU’
Europe is “more and bigger than the European Union”, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in Budapest on Thursday, calling for closer cooperation on the continent.
Szijjártóheld talks with his North Macedonian, Georgian, Monegasque, Armenian, San Marino and Turkish counterparts on the sidelines of the European Political Community summit, the foreign ministry said in a statement.
He pointed out that they were all foreign ministers of non-EU countries, which meant that “Europe is more, Europe is bigger than the European Union.”
He said Europe’s security and competitiveness had declined in the recent period, and there was “more than one correct way” to improve the situation.
“One of these, no doubt, is that the European Union should be enlarged and should establish much closer and more coordinated cooperation with European countries that are not EU members,” Szijjarto said.
The key phrase is respectful cooperation
He said the EU was giving up significant growth potential by not admitting new members, not deepening ties with the Caucasus countries and by having failed to build “respectful cooperation” with Türkiye.
“And the European Union will continue to lose much more in the future as well unless it can become a real and full European integration,” he added.
“A policy of respect and openness is needed instead of a policy of closing ourselves off, getting offended and lecturing others,” the minister said.
Szijjártó said it was “unacceptable” that the Western Balkan countries have been waiting for the possibility of EU membership for an average of 15 years, and certain countries have been waiting 10 years to sign an association agreement. He said the EU should not apply “double standards” by rejecting countries in the east of Europe that elect “conservative, patriotic governments”.
“We hope this message will get through here at the European Political Community summit today,” he added.
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The US presidential election is creating a completely new reality, not only in Europe but in the whole world, and old approaches are losing their validity and so must be discarded, the foreign minister said on Thursday.
The ministry cited Péter Szijjártó telling a press conference on the sidelines of the EPC summit that it was a welcome development that some “colourful” opinions had been presented at the opening meeting as against “the old cliches”.
“We heard opinions from the Turkic world, from the Western Balkans, Scandinavia, and also from a leading European member state,” he said.
The diversity of the positions presented was proof that Europe was at the crossroads, with a new situation emerging that could “change the rules of the game”, he said. The differences in opinion about the right way forward was “not a bad thing”, because it demonstrated the democratic character of the platform, he said.
Szijjártó said Europe’s current situation was “dangerous and difficult”. He added that for nearly 1,000 days, Hungary had been living in the direct vicinity of the war and Ukraine, paying its price while bearing no responsibility for the outbreak of the war in any way.
He expressed concern about the reformulation of blocs in the world, stating that Hungary stood to lose much as a result, as it had done during the Cold War.
The government instead has a vested interest in connectivity and international cooperation based on trust and respect, he said. “And this has nothing to do with ideology; it has nothing to do with any political theory, only with our experiences,” he added.
Szijjártó said that in the past few days a completely new reality had emerged in the world. “The result of the US presidential election creates a completely new reality, not only in Europe but in the world as a whole,” he added.
Strategic dialogue is needed, the foreign minister said
The minister also said that a domestic political crisis in Germany was another development suggesting that “nothing is as it used to be”.
“Old approaches don’t work anymore, so the old cliches must be discarded,” he added.
“Strategic dialogue is needed. And we hope that the meetings of the European Council starting tonight will serve as a platform for strategic dialogue instead of repeating old cliches, which I believe have lost validity as a result of the developments of recent days,” he said.
In response to a question, he said the outgoing US government had caused Hungary many difficulties such as the cancellation of a bilateral tax agreement and the amendment of visa waiver rules. Meanwhile the US ambassador was behaving as “a political activist and an opposition leader”, he said.
The government’s experience from the time of Trump’s presidency was completely different, he said, adding that hopes were now high in respect of his second term.
The personal ties and trust with the newly elected president “will definitely serve as a good basis for developing relations”, he added.
Szijjártó also expressed his belief that relations with China, similarly to all other bilateral relations, would not cause friction between Budapest and Washington.
He added that beyond the EU, Hungary’s two most important trade and investment partners were the US and China.
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Informal meeting of EU heads of state and government approvesOrbán’s initiative
The Fiscal Council said the government’s 2025 budget draft was “credible” and “feasible”, while highlighting some risks, in an opinion issued on Thursday.
Fiscal Council about the so-called peace budget
The Council said the 3.4pc GDP growth assumed in the budget draft was achievable, but pointed to risks posed by the war in Ukraine and European sanctions. Lower than anticipated growth could put the 3.7pc-of-GDP general government deficit target at risk as budget revenue underperforms, it added.
The Council said the targeted reduction in state debt to 72.6pc by end-2025 from 73.2pc at the end of 2024 was “realistic”, but noted that sensitivity to exchange rate risk had increased as the ratio of FX debt approached 30pc.
In a separate statement, the Finance Ministry acknowledged the Council’s opinion and said the 2025 budget bill would be submitted to lawmakers on Monday.
Photo: FB/Mihály Varga
The Hungarian parliament accepted the annual budget almost a year before in the last 14 years. That means the 2024 budget was accepted in 2023 May. The only exception was 2025 when the Orbán cabinet said they would only submit the budget after the American presidential elections. That is because the Orbán cabinet believes only Trumpcan bring peace to Eastern Europe, so a peace budget can only be drafted if he is the president starting next January.
Finance Minister Mihály Varga addressed the Figyelő Top 200 gala
Finance Minister Mihály Varga addressed the Figyelo Top 200 gala in Budapest late Thursday. Varga said the performance of the country’s business sector had been “impressive”, adding that the annual revenue threshold for inclusion on the Figyelo Top 200 list had climbed to HUF 90bn from HUF 35bn ten years earlier. He added that Hungary’s economic success was supported by the government’s policy of cooperation in the domestic economy and connectivity on external markets.
He said the government’s Eastern Opening policy had brought record FDI to the country. Assessing the results of the United States elections, Vargasaid Donald Trump’s victory could advance international processes supporting peace, limiting migration and improving the appraisal of national sovereignty. He added that improved relations between Hungary and the US could pave the way for the reinstatement of the double taxation avoidance agreement between the countries that was unilaterally terminated by the Democratic Party administration.
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The Hungarian government just passed a law that significantly changes how military deployments are handled. Now, the government can make decisions about sending troops abroad without needing approval from Parliament, even skipping public debate in certain cases.
The new legislation grants the cabinet full authority to launch international military actions under “special circumstances,” and these decisions will be shared only through official announcements, like the Hungarian Gazette or other government publications. This shift in decision-making power also introduces stricter control over sensitive information.
According to 24.hu, when a deployment involves classified details, the government can decide to withhold key information, such as the mission’s purpose, methods, or specific equipment used. Officials can choose to keep these details confidential if they believe that sharing them would risk national security or compromise international relations.
Experts opinion on the recent changes
Security analysts highlight that nearly all foreign missions involve some level of secrecy. József Kis-Benedek, a security expert at the National University of Public Service, explains that details about the mission’s objectives, the soldiers’ routes, and the equipment they carry are usually classified. Protecting these details can be crucial for troop safety. Although there is no external push from NATO or the EU requiring Hungary to make this change, supporters argue that the law could allow Hungary to respond more quickly in international situations.
Source: Facebook / Magyar Honvédség
The Chad Mission
A recent example of Hungary’s military involvement abroad is the deployment to Chad. Last year, Parliament approved sending 200 Hungarian troops to Chad, a number that could rise to 400 if rotations are needed, for a mission expected to last until the end of 2025. The aim is to protect Hungarian interests and support counterterrorism efforts. This mission is particularly challenging because Hungary is responsible for all aspects of logistics and security, from transporting troops to managing equipment. Adding to public interest, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s son, Gáspár Orbán, has reportedly been involved in organising the mission.
The new law does not only affect Hungarian troops going abroad; it also changes the rules around foreign military presence in Hungary. While Parliament still has the final say in most cases, the government now has the authority to make decisions independently for deployments connected to NATO, EU, and UN missions. This flexibility lets Hungary react more swiftly to the shifting geopolitical landscape, particularly with the increasing security pressures across Europe.
Ultimately, this legislation is intended to give the Hungarian government the agility to respond quickly to emerging security needs, while significantly limiting the transparency that was previously expected in military operations.
Source: Facebook / Magyar Honvédség
DK to appeal to Constitutional Court over soldiers’ legal status
According to MTI, Ágnes Vadai, the deputy group leader of the opposition Democratic Coalition, has submitted a motion to the Constitutional Court, seeking to annul the government decree on the legal status of Hungarian soldiers, the party’s press department said on Thursday.
The initiative has the support of the “democratic opposition”, with the exception of Momentum, so that a sufficient number of signatures has been collected to get the go-ahead, they said.
Vadai spoke about the issue in a Facebook video on Thursday, where she said those who defended their country had to be sure that they would not be sacked overnight. So it is important to record the rights and obligations of soldiers in a law secured with two-thirds majority, she added.
Construction and Transportation Minister János Lázár presented plans for transport infrastructure upgrades in the area around Eger (NE Hungary) after talks with the city’s mayor on Thursday.
After the meeting with Ákos Vágner, Lázársaid that the government had made good on a pledge to connect Eger with the M3 motorway via the M25 expressway with a HUF 67bn investment. He added that the M3 would undergo a HUF 100bn upgrade to finish by the end of the summer of 2025, while a stretch of the motorway, from Road no. 31 to the Gyöngyös exit, would be expanded to six lanes at a cost of HUF 420bn.
Minister Lázár and Mayor Vágner in Eger. Photo: FB/Lázár
Lázár said construction of a 16.5km-long, HUF 100bn city bypass could start, while the existing main road through the city was repaved in 2026.
An east-west rail line connecting to the city could be upgraded at a cost of HUF 135bn, reducing travel time between the capital and Eger by around 20 minutes, he added.
He said ten hectares owned by railway company MAV could be transferred to the city to expand its industrial park which is at capacity.
He added that HUF 1bn would be earmarked to start the renovation of Eger’s landmark castle.
Hungary could expand EV subs to households, says minister
Making subsidies for the purchase of electric vehicles available to households, too, is among the government’s plans, conditional on the fiscal situation, National Economy Minister Marton Nagy said in a presentation at Hungarian Battery Week in Budapest on Thursday. Nagy said a subsidy scheme for retail EV purchases could be introduced from the second half of 2025.
At present, subsidies for EV purchases are available to businesses and sole proprietors. Addressing the departure of the German finance minister, Nagy said Berlin had put strict fiscal policy ahead of its economic development goals and suggested the development could increase the chances for state programmes supporting electromobility targets, infrastructure upgrades and EV purchases.
He pointed to electromobility advances in Asia, especially China, and said BYD and other EV manufacturers were taking advantage of economies of scale and were more competitive than their European peers even without state support. He noted that battery electric vehicle penetration in China could reach 40pc by year-end, while the rate was around 14pc in Europe with the rollback of state subsidy schemes. He added that support for retail and corporate EV purchases in France had lifted sales there.
In China, foreign manufacturers’ share of EV sales has fallen to around half from two-thirds in 2020, while the market share of Chinese EV makers on the continent is growing, he said. Nagy highlighted the lack of a common European Union directive on regulating the electromobility transition, in spite of its strategic importance. He reiterated the Hungarian government’s opposition to the EU’s countervailing duties on imports of Chinese EVs.
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Péter Magyar, leader of the opposition Tisza Party, has had successful talks in Budapest with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, the leader of the Austrian People’s Party, his party said in a statement on Thursday.
Talks focused on strengthening Hungary-Austria relations and intensifying bilateral political, economic and cultural cooperation between the two countries, the statement added.
Photo: FB/Magyar
In addition to domestic policy, the sides reviewed major European issues, it said.
They discussed the need for strong European regulations against illegal migration, and they were in agreement that all diplomatic means must be used to end the Russia-Ukraine war as soon as possible, it added.
According to the statement, the talks will continue in Vienna. Magyaris also scheduled to meet French President Emmanuel Macron, it added.
Photo: FB/Magyar
Magyar said both offered their help for him but he said the Tisza Party would like to expand independently.
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A competitiveness pact dubbed the Budapest Declaration submitted by the Hungarian presidency of the European Union was approved at the informal meeting of EU heads of state and government in Budapest on Friday, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán told a press conference after the meeting. He added that it was necessary to “make Europe great again”.
Orbán condemned “anti-Semitic attacks” in Amsterdam
At a joint press conference with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council Charles Michel, Orbán said that on behalf of Hungary he condemned the “anti-Semitic attacks” that had taken place in Amsterdam on Thursday.
The attack was unacceptable also to Hungarians, he said. Orbán added that Budapest, where Europe’s largest synagogue was only “a stone’s throw away” from the city’s largest Catholic cathedral, was a meeting place of different cultures, East and West, North and South, which made the city “uniquely tolerant”. “That’s why we live together in peace and security here in Budapest, and I wish Amsterdam’s residents to succeed with the same,” he added.
Photo: MTI
“We will fight our battles in Brussels”
Commenting on the EU summit, Orbán said it was common knowledge that there are serious political conflicts between the EC and Hungary and he had also had disputes with von der Leyen. At the same time, he said the EC president was this time a guest in Budapest and she deserved a polite welcome and respect, so there had been no disputes at all at the meeting.
“We will fight our battles in Brussels,” he said.
Informal meeting approves key document
Orbán said there was full consensus about the main topic of the summit, which was competitiveness, and a competiveness pact had been approved in line with the Hungarian presidency’s goal. He referred to the document as the “Budapest declaration” and thanked all the related work of his colleagues, the president of the commission, the president of the European Council, and Mario Draghi who had prepared a report on competitiveness.
The document places a focus on competitiveness in the next five years, and states that immediate action is needed, he said.
The growth of the European Union was slower in the past two decades than the growth of China or the US, and the EU’s productivity is growing slower than its competitors’, with the EU’s share in world trade decreasing. EU companies pay three times higher price for electricity and four times higher price for natural gas than their US competitors, he added.
Simplification revolution needed
Outlining a number of points of the Budapest Declaration on competitiveness, Orbán said a “simplification revolution” would be implemented and companies’ reporting obligations would be “drastically reduced” by the end of the first half of 2025. A capital market union will be implemented in full, a European defence industry base will be established, urgent measures will be taken to bring down energy prices and a “genuine” industrial policy will take shape in the coming period, he added.
Orbán said everybody at the summit had agreed that R+D spending should be raised to 3 percent of GDP by 2030.
He said the capital market union would be fully implemented.
Orbán said Europeans’ savings totalled more than Americans’ but Europeans keep their savings in banks and banks are “genetically” unsuitable for financing various high-risk high-tech investments.
Bank deposits should be transferred to capital funds, European citizens should be convinced to do this in order to make the money more easily available for innovative economic solutions, he said. Steps will be taken to achieve this, the prime minister added.
European defence industrial base will be established
Orbán said it had been decided that a European defence industrial base would be established.
He said that it had been agreed that an assessment or so-called competitiveness test would be prepared for all new legislative proposals, in order to see their impact of new legal regulations on competitiveness.
He added that the EC president and the members of the Council were in agreement that competitiveness issues would be regularly addressed at the meetings of the European Council.
The prime minister said teh Budapest meeting gave reason for optimism. “Nobody wants to manage a decline, rather we all want to make Europe great again,” he added. Orbán said that if the Americans had decided to make America great again, the only possible European response was to “make Europe great again”.
In response to a question concerning why competitiveness had not been improved and bureaucracy reduced already despite these being among the Lisbon Treaty’s goals, Ursula von der Leyen said that huge transformation had taken place in competitiveness, for instance in research and development. The performance of the various European sectors has been reviewed at the talks, identifying the strengths and weaknesses, she added.
She said red tape and reporting obligations would be cut and a related joint proposal would be submitted to parliament and the council.
Economic questions
Commenting on planned talks with the US president-elect on trade, she said relations would be continually maintained and consultations are planned on shared interests. She said one such area was the purchase of liquefied natural gas, adding that a large amount of it was still being purchased from Russia, and it should be replaced by purchases from the US. This could also help reduce energy prices, Von der Leyen said and added that consultations should be started about this, as well as on the trade balance.
Answering a question, President of the European Council Charles Michel said that energy in the EU was a national competence but the member states should still act together to reduce prices. It must be taken into consideration that energy is a means of sovereignty and also a strategic issue, he said.
The same applies to financial markets, he said, adding that they also served as a means for directing investments towards European innovation. He highlighted the need for the capacities to be freed in the interest of economic development and added that Orbán had demonstrated with examples that the EU was falling behind its competitors.
Commenting on competitiveness, Michel said it was necessary to see that the situation called for urgent action. In response to a question on new financial instruments, he said solidarity should not be forgotten. Mutual trust depends not only on financial support and a willingness for making internal reforms was also important, he added.
Von der Leyen said it was obvious that more private investment and more state investment was needed. The priorities must be defined first, she added. She said there were two solutions for financing at a European level: with new own resources or by making payments to the common budget. Both required capital increase, she added.
The summit was excellent
Commenting on the newly approved pact, the Hungarian prime minister said it had been easy to reach an agreement on competitiveness because it was a pragmatic matter and not a matter of ideology. In response to a question, he said the goals defined in Lisbon were not realistic anymore because of the great changes that have taken place since. He said that fulfilling goals was a management issue, and if Europe had good leaders then they could be achieved.
Orbán said that prior to the summit, much could be heard about Hungary’s isolation and a dislike for the country, a failure of the summit and that European leaders would refuse to attend. Yet, the summit had been excellent, with good cooperation, he added. The competitiveness pact has been approved whereas earlier everyone said this would be impossible, he said. They trust each other, and being good leaders, they will be able to achieve the competitiveness goals presented, he added.
Commenting on future relations with the US, he said he expected some tough negotiations. Donald Trump will surely have some ideas on how trade should develop “obviously along US interests”, he said. Europe will have to stand up for itself, engage in talks and reach a deal in the end, he added.
In response to another question, Orbán said there were two more months left of the Hungarian EU presidency, “this has been a good gathering with nice results”, but he still held some surprises up his sleeve.
Financial support for Ukraine remains
Commenting on financial support for Ukraine, Ursula von der Leyen said that in addition to a 50 billion euro loan package from the G7 would also be available for Ukraine until 2026. She said that Russia posed a threat to the security of not only Europe but the whole world. Russia is increasingly lining up with Iran and North Korea and together with China they “feed and fuel this war”, she added. Russia uses Chinese and Iranian technology in the battlefield which shows that the security of the Pacific region and Europe are interconnected, she said.
Michel added that steps must be taken in the interest of just peace but “nothing should be decided about Ukraine without Ukraine”. If Europe sends a sign of weakness to the Kremlin, it will also send a message to other regimes that they could violate international law and Europe would become vulnerable, he added.
Orbán said he had first presented his position about the war in March 2022 and it has not changed ever since. “The Hungarian position is clearly pro-peace and pro-Hungarian,” he added. He also said that since the outbreak of the war,
Hungary had provided the largest humanitarian aid to Ukrainians, receiving several hundred thousand refugees, but it refused to get involved in the military conflict.
Different opinion not isolation
He said that when someone holds a different opinion from others, it does not mean isolation, only a dispute. That’s how democracy was born, he said, adding that “functioning in headwind from a political point of view is part of my DNA,” he said. Orbán added that Hungary had been alone in 2015 when it started building a fence and holding the position that migration must be stopped at the border. “We were alone, but we did not get isolated, we were part of the debate,” he said.
In response to an additional question about the war, Orbán said Ukraine was a sovereign country and the Ukrainians must decide if they continue the fight.
“I never try to dictate to the Ukrainians, it is their country, their future, and their life … but I am ready to help them any time,” he said. The prime minister added that during visits to Kyiv and Moscow it became clear to him that neither of the warring sides was ready for ceasefire and they were both convinced that time was on their side. He said that he had tried to create an international pro-peace environment to allow that the warring parties could sooner or later sign a ceasefire agreement.
Europe must recognise its own limits and give member states the tools to act independently, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in Budapest on Friday, ahead of an informal meeting of European Union heads of state and government.
Meloni supports PM Orbán’s call for peace
Although “many pretend that certain debates were just surfacing”, the issue of comptetitiveness had been on the agenda since Hungary published its programme for the presidency, as the US measures to protect their economy required an answer, she said.
“We must ask not what America can do for us but what Europe can do for itself,” shesaid, according to a statement from the Italian prime minister’s office.
Photo: FB/Orbán
The main focus is on the distribution of funds, “and whether we really want to give tools to member states to achieve their strategic goals.” Member states should have more independence in the matter of defence, too, she said.
She said she supported Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s call for peace in Ukraine, but said that “as long as the war lasts, Rome will stand by Ukraine.”
Michel calls for joint efforts to improve EU competitiveness
In the past months, the European Union has come to a concensus on cooperation to make the community more competitive both within the EU and with third partners, European Council President Charles Michelsaid in Budapest on Friday, ahead of an informal EU summit.
Michel said the Draghi Report, with its clear recommendations, was an excellent basis for discussion.
Answering a question, Michel said the recent US election had left the burning issues of climate change open, adding that the recent floods in Spain had pointed to the EU’s obligation to react fast in such situations.
Concerning the recent elections in Georgia, Michel raised a serious suspicion of fraud and said the process should be investigated.
‘Let’s protect our common European interests!’, Macron said
French President Emmanuel Macron, at a plenary session of the European Political Community’s summit held in Budapest on Thursday, called for a common approach to protecting European interests, saying that Europe “must write its own history”.
Macron said that a turning point had been reached in European history.
In connection with “the war started by Vladimir Putin” and technological advances taken by China, Macron said the question was whether Europe wanted “to read history written by others or write its own”.
The French president said economies of European member states and the bloc’s defence system were “strong”, noting that the EU was a bloc of 440 million people while the European political community represented 700 million people.
Macron urged Europe “not to disappear from geopolitics” and to take action “and protect together our European interests and to believe in our strategic autonomy and sovereignty.”
He said Europe should simplify its rules, boost its competitiveness through innovation and rethink its internal market, he said.
Speaking about the Russia-Ukraine war, the French president said that there were various standpoints on the issue, adding that “we have the same interest” in Russia “not winning this war”.
He called for the establishment of a European security area, with NATO playing in it a key role, and he warned Europe against “delegating its security to the Americans”.
Meanwhile, Macron called for effective solutions to the problem of illegal migration and urged an intensification of efforts in Europe to boost economic growth and Europe’s competitiveness through innovation.
He also urged the “real” integration of energy networks, decrying the lack of a uniform European approach in this area.
Macron called the European democratic model an important topic and urged Europe to review it, adding that a Europe was needed that simplified the rules, strengthened competitiveness through innovation and rethought its internal market, he said. Noting cyberattacks and manipulation in the Georgian and Moldovan elections reported by election observers, he also congratulated Moldova’s president-elect and added that Georgia looked towards Europe and had confirmed its commitment to democracy. Europe should rethink its own democratic model, he said, adding that democracy did not mean providing infrastructure alone; this would mean liberal democracies being “swept off the table”. Europe, he added, was capable of acting as a strong geopolitical power but it had ceded this role geopolitically and technologically to the US. Europe must take back control if it wants to be strong, Macron said. “There are herbivores and there are carnivores. If we remain herbivores, the carnivores will eat us. So I think it would be good if we were omnivores,” the president said.
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As a friend of the new president of the United States, Hungary has a huge and unprecedented economic opportunity, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said in a weekly interview with public radio on Friday.
13th month pension in Hungary remains
The prime minister said there was a direct link between major changes in the world and the finances of Hungarian families as well as the economic outlook for the next few years.
“Things inconcievable a few months ago will become possible next year,” Orbánsaid. Referring to the government’s Demján Sándor Programme, he said it was “unprecedented assistance” to small companies, and it was directly linked to opportunities in global politics. International developments have also created opportunities for cheaper housing and will allow for increasing the purchasing power of wages and a continued 13th month pension programme, he said. “All those will be possible because … we understood global political developments correctly and made preparations accordingly,” he added.
Photo: MTI
Orbán: “war our greatest problem”
Orbán said the war in Ukraine was “our greatest problem” and insisted that without the war “inflation would not have run so high” and energy prices “would not be where they are”, adding that without the EU sanctions against Russia the European economies would be in a much better state.
Had the Democrats won the US elections, Hungary should have needed to prepare a “war budget” next year and would have spent “not only two percent of GDP but three or four … on military purposes”. The Hungarian government, however, “had known that if Donald Trump wins they could prepare a peace budget,” Orbán said. That is why, he said, the government had requested from parliament to wait with tabling the draft budget for the US election to take place, “to see if 2025 would be a peace or a war year, and submit a budget draft accordingly”.
Talking about economic neutraliy and “a new economic policy adapting to these changes,” Orbán said that Hungary’s 21-point action plan would bring positive changes to people’s everyday lives.
EU summit in Budapest today. Photo: MTI
Hungary’s aims in line with the Americans
Orbán acknowledged debate over the “American-Chinese matter”, but said Hungary’s aims were really in line with the Americans’.
Donald Trump and the Americans want to do good business with the Chinese, and we don’t want to do any differently, just reach good agreements, he added.
“Everybody wants that, so it isn’t necessary to take one or the other disputing side. Why not take our own side?” Orban asked. “We have our own Hungarian interests, the Hungarian people are important for us, and we have to do what is right for those interests,” he said, adding that was how Hungary needed to politicise in both the West and the East.
Orbán insisted that great achievements and devopment, and “high quality life based on our own performance” required a commitment to a Hungarian identity and Hungarian interests “to guide us through the political universe”. While “some say we are too small”, Orbán said “we are not small, this is a great nation”, adding that he had seen successful countries of a similar size to Hungary that “cleverly made friends in the world and then turned it into economic gains”.
Trump’s victory is “such a great win that it is visible not only from the Moon but from Mars,” Orbán said. He went on to say that if Trump had won the election in 2020 “these nightmares two years would not have happened; there would have been no war because America would have had a strong leader to make the necessary deals in time.” “That did not happen and we have been paying a terrible price for the past two years; Europeans, with one or two exceptions such as Slovakia or the Vatican, have supported that bad thing,” he said.
Trump seeking peace
Orbán said that Donald Trump, the next US president was “obviously seeking peace rather than war, anti-migration policies rather than migration and family protection rather than gender.” Trump’s policies will “make a change in the world and us Europeans will have to react,” he added.
Concerning the war in Ukraine, Orbán said “military defeat” was “obvious”, and said the US “will get out of this war rather than encourage it”.
“They say a lot of things about Donald Trump, but nobody questions that he doesn’t start wars. He hates war, he’s a real businessman,” Orbán said.
“Europe alone will not be able to finance this war … there are some that would want to do so, but there is an increasing number of those that used to be loud and now silent, and those that cautiously call for adapting to the new situation,” Orbán said.
“And here we are that say that the moment has come to quickly switch from war to peace,” he said, noting that the war had caused huge damage “to the world, Europe, and Hungary.”
The switch from war to peace is under way, Orbán said. “That’s what made the meeting [of the European Political Community] in Budapest so exciting, it has been the largest diplomatic event of Hungary’s history,” Orbán said, and thanked Budapest citizens for “putting up with it”.
“Peace needs strength”, says Orbán
Put to him that one of the warring parties in Ukraine was saying that “peace needs strength, and strength is needed to get to peace”, Orbán said: “That’s a good idea if you’re strong but not so good if the other side is stronger.” He praised Ukraine for the heroic fight they put up in the past two years. “Whether their leaders have steered them in the right direction is for Ukrainians to decide.”
“Europe’s greatest problem is that those that should be consulted are being ignored,” Orbán said.
“If you don’t go to Moscow, Kyiv or Beijing, if you critise and despise Donald Trump rather than treat him as the incoming US president, how are you going to make plans for the future?” Orbán asked.
Referring to his own visits to Kyiv and Moscow, and talks with the presidents of China and Turkiye as well as with US President Biden and Trump, then presidential candidate, Orbán said he had written a subsequent report to his European peers. “Now the situation is exactly what we could foresee … no leader should say they are surprised or expected otherwise, as a result of the Hungarian peace mission all this could be foretold,” he said, adding “not because we can see the future or we are good at guessing the numbers on the lottery: it is because if you communicate you will understand what could come next.”
The next period will be about making swift, important decisions “with a high risk of errors”, and the EPC had come together to support each other in “everyone making their own good decisions,” he said.
He said they looked forward to a meeting with Mario Draghi, the former head of the European Central Bank and former prime minister of Italy, about his analysis of the European economy.
European companies pay too much for gas, electricity
The root of the problem is that European companies are currently paying four times the US price for gas and three time the price for electricity, he said.
Orbán said such a competitiveness disadvantage could not be offset by any other measure.
New energy regulations are needed “that don’t ruin European companies and families,” Orbán said. Hungarian families are paying the least for gas and electricity in Europe, “and that is a competitive edge for Hungary that is hard to appreciate until one enters the international arena,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hungary is facing a challenge in finding a market for Hungarian products, he said.
Regarding illegal migration, Orbán said Brussels was the “centre of judicial activism supporting illegal migration”, so change must be achieved there.
Should migration be in the hands of national courts, “it would be easy”, Orbán said. “The trouble is that Brussels interferes in the procedure … that’s the head of the snake.”
He pointed to Italy as an example, “where the government issued excellent laws to curb migration, but the Italian judiciary sent them to Brussels citing concerns that they were incompatible with European law.” Predictably, Brussels then “rejected the excellent regulations made by Italy’s government,” Orbán said.
“They are doing the same to us, but we have rebelled,” he added.
National Consultation
Speaking about the latest National Consultation survey, Orbán said the government’s weight in Brussels was depending on its backing in Hungary. “I can rebel in Brussels because the Hungarian government has the backing of the majority of sensible people who don’t want migration but who stand for a family-friendly government, peace, sensible energy prices and the 13th month pension.”
“It is best if people know in Hungary that, should Brussels’s policy be put through in Hungary, all families would be worse off, and the government needs people to clearly express their support in order to protect itself and families.”
“We need stable positions, and the people can give us that,” he said, calling on people to fill out the consultation.
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