Austria

Strict border control may be reinstated on the Austrian-Hungarian border

Migration Hungary border

In end-December, the Austrian vice-chancellor, Werner Kogler, said that Hungary should be kicked out of the Schengen zone, following the logic of the Austrian Interior Minister. Kogler highlighted that most unregistered crossings (mostly illegal migrants) into Austria come from Hungary. Now, an Austrian mayor talks about the importance of reinstating strict border control on the Austrian-Hungarian border. Is this the end of Schengen for Hungary?

The mayor is furious

According to rtl.hu, it is not always beneficial if the EU pays for asphalting a road connecting two settlements on the different sides of a Schengen border. That is what happened between Somfalva ( Schattendorf, Austria) and Sopron/Ágfalva in Hungary in the 2010s. The former dirt road transformed into a brand new asphalted one resulting in a drastic rise in traffic.

Theoretically, you are forbidden to use the new road on weekdays between 5 and 8 AM and 4 and 7 PM. That is the peak time for Hungarian commuters going to work in Austria and coming home. However, not everybody sticks to the rules. And despite the Austrian army is being stationed near the border crossing, they cannot sanction the commuters.

And the volume of traffic is ever-increasing. That is because everybody uses the road, who goes to work in the direction of Nagymarton (Mattersburg) or Bécsújhely (Wiener Neustadt) in Austria from Sopron and the neighbouring Hungarian villages. The other option would be a 30-minute-long turnout towards the Klingenbach/Sopron border station. Thus, it is understandable that everybody chooses the new road despite the ban.

Strict border control between Austria and Hungary soon?

ORF, Austria’s national broadcaster, talks about 4,000 commuters there even though Thomas Hoffmann (SPÖ, Austrian Socialists) introduced the previously mentioned travel restriction in 2015. He aimed to reduce the traffic in his small village. Therefore, he wants to build a barrier and put out CCTV cameras. The latter would be able to read license plates, and the barrier would only open if the car owner had permission to cross the border. Mr Hoffmann would only issue such permits to the residents of Ágfalva and Somfalva, the two small Hungarian villages near the border.

However, the Austrian interior ministry did not give a green light, and another turn of negotiations will take place on 20 January.

The mayor said he would put concrete blocks and columns to block the road from 1 March if he cannot construct the barrier. He highlighted that he needed to protect the village residents living near the country’s busiest minor road.

In the previous weeks, two traffic accidents happened. Cars hit a cyclist and a 90-year-old pedestrian. Meanwhile, the road is not wide enough to create two lanes.

Some commuters found a solution to evade the mayor’s ban legally. They let their car on the Hungarian side of the border, walk to Austria and jump into their company vehicle there. Therefore, Mr Hoffmann would like to extend the village’s short-term parking zone. The regional governor’s office said they supported the mayor’s ambitious plans to keep the region’s traffic increase at bay.

Cooperation key to optimal border protection slovakia hungary
Read alsoHungary’s southern border is being protected by Hungarian, Slovak, Czech, Austrian and Turkish policemen

Austria mentioned kicking out Hungary from the Schengen zone – Orbán wants a tripartite summit

Schengen Croatia Hungary border

As we reported in December, Werner Kogler, the Austrian Deputy Chancellor expressed his views that Hungary should have been kicked out from the Schengen zone if they listened to the Austrian interior minister’s reasoning. The minister voted against Romania’s and Bulgaria’s Schengen membership last year, so the two countries could not become a member of the Schengen zone, opposite Croatia. Now Orbán wants a tripartite summit that would allow Serbia, Hungary and Austria to tackle the migration crisis together.

The Austrian deputy chancellor said in December that there were issues with Hungary regarding migration. He estimated that tens of thousands of illegal migrants enter Austria through Hungary, which is unacceptable. The problem is not with Romania and Bulgaria but with Hungary, he highlighted then. His colleague, Gerhard Karner, Federal Minister of the Interior of Austria had already voted against Bucharest’s and Sofia’s Schengen zone membership, provoking extensive anti-Austrian demonstrations in Romania.

PM Viktor Orbán met Ivica Dacic, the new Serbian foreign minister, on Tuesday, and talked about the migration problems at the Serbian-Hungarian border. They discussed a possible tripartite summit with Austria, Hungary and Serbia. However, they have not set a date yet, index.hu wrote.

Hungary border crossing
Read alsoCitizens of 63 countries will soon only be able to enter Hungary with a visa

On screen: Central Powers’ Jewish soldiers in WW1

jewish

Stabbed in the back – World premier. This remarkable, one-of-a-kind film presents for the first time on screen the story of the 500,000 Jewish soldiers who served in the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary) armies during The Great War between 1914-1918, only to be persecuted a mere two decades later during the Holocaust.

Most people do not know that Otto Frank (father of Anne) was one of the most well-known Jewish WWI veterans in Germany. After loyally serving his country, he was forced into hiding, and his country ended up murdering his wife and children for his sacrifice. The fate of the veterans and their ultimate betrayal is illustrated in this groundbreaking, colorized film.

The special premiere event will feature directors Peter K. Rosenbluth & Peter Banyavari in attendance to introduce the film and participate in a Q&A afterward. Details HERE.

Hungarian snowboarder takes down skiers in Austria — VIDEO

ski winter

A Hungarian snowboarder ventured by himself to the K section of the Austrian Rosenkranz Ski Centre. However, the unlucky man fell and slid back down, dragging many skiers along with him.

Sielok.hu has spotted what an 18-year-old Hungarian snowboarder did at Austria’s Kreischberg Ski Centre. He wrongly clinged with both hands to the ski lift to get up a steep section. As a result, he fell and then slid back down, crushing several skiers.

The man left the scene without assistance. The incident was recorded at 11 am on Wednesday morning. According to the local newspaper, the Hungarian man had an accident with the pickaxe, which slipped from his feet. This caused him to fall and sweep away the people behind him. Some managed to avoid him, but several were mowed down. The incident was also recorded on a video.

Four of the skiers behind him were injured, one of them was taken by ambulance while three of them made it to hospital by themselves. The Hungarian who left without assistance was caught by the police later on.

The most stunning mountain viewpoints in Hungary

hiker-hiking-adventures

Hungary’s mountains are a true natural wonder, offering a wide range of landscapes, ecosystems, and outdoor adventures. From the high-elevation lookouts of the Bükk Mountains to the peaceful valleys of the Mecsek Hills, Hungary’s mountain ranges offer something for every type of traveller. The country is full of picturesque viewpoints scattered throughout its diverse landscape. Whether you’re an avid photographer, a hiker, or just someone who loves to take in the beauty of nature, you will find plenty of reasons to visit the following lookout points and experience the breathtaking view for yourself.

In this article, we have collected some mountain viewpoints that provide the most astonishing panorama.

Zsófia lookout tower in the Bükk Mountains

The lookout tower in Lillafüred was renovated just this year. It is also known as the first lookout tower in the countryside, with a history dating back to the late 1800s.

The idea of the lookout tower in Lillafüred was first conceived in the late 1890s,

writes boon.hu. The popular tourist destination also won the title of Lookout of the Year this year.

Írottkő

Kőszeg Irottkő, kilátó, lookout, view
Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org by Darinko

Írottkő is located in the Kőszeg Mountains in the western part of the country, at an altitude of 883 m. It is interesting to note that the border between Austria and Hungary passes right through the building. This means that one half of it belongs to Austria and the other half to Hungary.

Reaching the top of the tower, we can enjoy the beautiful panorama. In clear weather, you can even see Lake Balaton and the Austrian Schneeberg-Rax peaks.

Flóra Rest-Place in the Mecsek Hills

One of the most remarkable attractions of the Mecsek is clearly the Flóra Rest-Place at an altitude of 404 m. Hovewer, an even more remarkable attraction is the so-called Mecsek Swing, which is a three-person swing. It is unclear who constructed it, but it is definitely an unforgettable experience to sit in it and admire the view of Pécs and the surrounding hills.

Kisfaludy lookout tower on Badacsony Hill

Badacsony Lookout Hill
Photo: Wikimedia Commons by Ramessos

The lookout tower can be found on Badacsony Hill at Lake Balaton, at an altitude of 438 m. From the top of the tower, visitors can take in the panoramic view of the Tapolca Basin and the surrounding hills. As badacsony.com writes, the tower can be accessed via three main hiking trails: the Stone Gate, the Bujdosók stairs, and the path from Rózsakő through the Hertelendy stairs.

Here is a panoramic view from the lookout tower:

Badacsony Panorama View
Photo: Wikimedia Commons by Ramessos

While Hungary’s mountain viewpoints are definitely worth visiting during the warmer months, they are also a great destination in the winter. If you’re lucky, you might get to experience the magic of a winter wonderland, with the snow-covered peaks and forests providing a stunning contrast to the clear blue skies. Do not let the colder weather deter you – Hungary’s mountain viewpoints are just as beautiful and worth visiting in the winter as they are in the summer.

Austria would exclude Hungary from the Schengen area?

werner kogler vice-chancellor of austria

Austrian Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler said Hungary should be kicked out of Schengen, following the logic of the Austrian Interior Minister. According to Kogler, most unregistered crossings into Austria come from Hungary.

Criticism across Europe, Romania’s ambassador to Austria withdrawn

The German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) has published an article on the problems surrounding Schengen enlargement. They recalled that Austria’s blocking of Romania and Bulgaria (together with the Netherlands in the case of Bulgaria) from joining the Schengen area has provoked sharp criticism across Europe. Romania has recalled its ambassador from Vienna, which was an unusual move among the partner countries. Most recently, it was said that the ambassador would not be returning in the near future. At least not until Austria had taken action on the Schengen enlargement.

A “cry for help”, not against the two countries

The Austrian government’s position was criticised by the left and the liberal opposition, rtl.hu reports. But according to the FAZ, the Green Party coalition partner is also increasingly distancing itself from the ÖVP (Austrian People’s Party) of Karl Nehammer. Gerhard Karner, also ÖVP interior minister, vetoed Schengen enlargement in Brussels in early December. This was defended by Chancellor Karl Nehammer and other ÖVP government members as a “cry for help”, not against the two countries, but as a signal of the need to reform the Schengen system.

A huge problem with Schengen is illegal migration

Werner Kogler, leader and vice-chancellor of the Greens, said in a Christmas interview with the Kleine Zeitung that there are objectively problems with migration, but they are only marginally linked to Schengen. Kogler said his aim was to see Romania and Bulgaria join the Schengen area next year because the undeniable problems with illegal migration through south-eastern Europe were not with them but with Hungary, he said.

“If we were to stick to the logic of the Interior Minister, Hungary should be kicked out of Schengen, because most unregistered crossings to Austria are from there,”

he said. Austria had registered 100,000 refugees according to the rules, and then it turned out that “75,000-80,000 people had not even been pre-registered.”

Fuel station Hungary
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Former Austrian Chancellor handed Petőfi Award in Budapest

Wolfgang Schüssel award Hungary

Former Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel was handed the Petőfi Award at the House of Terror Museum on Thursday evening.

Gergely Gulyás, the prime minister’s chief of staff, said at the ceremony that Schüssel was “at heart a freedom fighter”. In 1998, Schüssel paved the way for EU membership talks with Hungary and was a reliable negotiator who backed the country’s swiftest possible entry to the EU, Gulyás said, adding that he “represented the Europe that we still wanted to join”. He added that whereas Brussels today was “characterised by incompetence and a lack of principle”, Schüssel had been guided by his convictions.

vienna-christmas
Read alsoAdvent train service from Hungary to Vienna or Zagreb

Austria contested the EU’s approval of Hungary’s Paks nuclear power plant upgrade

Paks nuclear power plant

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) on Wednesday dismissed a suit by Austria contesting the European Commission’s approval of government investment aid for the upgrade of Hungary’s Paks nuclear power plant.

Austria had argued that Hungary’s direct award of the project to a Russian contactor in the framework of an agreement involving a 10 billion euro credit from Russia violated European Union rules on public procurement. The EC had cleared the aid citing a provision in the Treaties that allows aid for certain economic activities, as long as it “does not adversely affect trading conditions to an extent contrary to the common interest”.

“Assuming that a tender procedure may have had an influence on the amount of the aid, which Austria has not proven, such a factor would not by itself have had any effect on the advantage which that aid constituted for its recipient,” the CJEU said in a statement.

paks_nuclear_plant_hungary
Read alsoNew Hungarian nuclear power plant could be built on fault line?

The CJEU also rejected allegations of “disproportionate distortions of competition and unequal treatment”, resulting in the exclusion of producers of renewable energy from the deregulated internal electricity market, noting that member states are free to decide the composition of their own energy mix, while the EC cannot require state financing to be allocated to alternative energy sources.

The EC cleared the aid for the construction of two blocks at the Paks plant, Hungary’s sole commercial source of nuclear energy, in the spring of 2017.

fuel_rods_reactor_paks_nuclear_power_plant
Read alsoRussian Rosatom: Paks II project advancing at prescribed pace

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó welcomed the decision, saying the dismissal was a “great victory for Hungary… declaring the Paks upgrade to be fully in line with EU regulations.” Speaking on the sidelines of a NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in Bucharest, Szijjártó said the decision was a boost to Hungarian energy security.

Hungary is taking care to comply with all environmental and professional requirements, and prioritises security in the project, he said. The CJEU decision said that the investment’s permits and funding were fully in line with EU regulations, he said. “We’ve fended off another attack,” he said.

He called on “institutions, banks and countries … wanting to block the construction by unlawful means” to consider the decision and refrain from obstructing a project key to Hungary’s energy security and to maintaining its achievements in curbing household energy costs.

Billions of euros
Read alsoFinal decision: the EU unlocks billions of euros for Hungary! – UPDATED

Advent train service from Hungary to Vienna or Zagreb

vienna-christmas

From Hungary, you can travel to two neighbouring capitals, Vienna and Zagreb, over the Christmas period.

Four Advent EuroCity journeys to Vienna, the Austrian capital, are available on 26 November, 3 December, 1 December and 17 December. The trains depart from Keleti Station, according to the MÁV website.

Read alsoEverything you need to know about the Budapest Christmas fairs – PHOTOS

The departure time is 8:01 am. Stops include Tatabánya, Komárom and Győr. The return train from Vienna departs at 6:04 pm, so passengers can make it back to Budapest by 9:00 pm. Tickets for trains in Hungary are compulsory and cost between EUR 5 for children and EUR 17 to 29 for adults, depending on the booking.

The Zagreb Advent Express to Croatia used to be very popular before the pandemic between 2016 and 2018, according to sokszinuvidek.24.hu.

The special Advent train will now depart from Pécs to the Croatian capital at 6:17 am on 3 December. In Zagreb, you can spend 6 hours before the train returns.

The trains will run with dining cars, where passengers can enjoy a Christmas menu and mulled wine. Tickets cost EUR 31 for adults.

Christmas Fair Vörösmarty Square
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New Hungarian nuclear power plant could be built on fault line?

paks_nuclear_plant_hungary

A new report casts doubt on the safety of the Paks expansion called Paks II. This time, the Austrian Environment Agency has pointed to the lack of earthquake safety at the site, including the current plant. The experts continue to question the suitability of the site.

On Monday morning, the Austrian Environment Agency published its report on the seismological risks of Paks II. Austrian experts still question the suitability of the site.

The presence of active fault lines is highly probable

The document was highlighted by Benedek Jávor, former MEP for the Párbeszéd party, in a Facebook post. He reminds that the geological studies carried out by the Hungarian side in the area selected for the construction of the plant indicate the presence of active (so-called capabolic) fault lines capable of causing displacement on the surface. Such a site should be considered unsuitable for the construction of a nuclear power plant in accordance with Hungarian regulations, international recommendations and Russian standards, Népszava reports.

Austrian experts already raised awareness of the fault line

Jávor recalls that on 15 February 2022, the Austrian and Hungarian sides held a bilateral meeting to clarify the issues Austria previously raised on seismological safety. The Austrians have already commented that the Hungarian geomorphological investigations provide evidence of an active fault line. This fault line is capable of causing surface displacement at the plant site. It passes both under the planned Paks II site and under the current nuclear power plant.

In their view, based on a proper interpretation of the Hungarian study documentation, there are geological formations that indicate a surface displacement of 30-40 cm caused by a magnitude 6 earthquake.

Regulations in force do not allow the construction

The Austrian experts pointed out something else as well. The Hungarian regulations do not allow the construction of a nuclear plant on a site where a surface displacement as described above is possible. At the meeting, the Hungarian side tried to refute the possibility of such displacements and the existence of a fault line, mainly by means of historical data. However, Austria did not find this convincing.

The claim that there is no active fault line near that has caused displacement in the last 100,000 years is especially problematic. According to the Austrian experts, this claim is factually untrue based on the studies carried out by the Hungarian side. The studies take into account the information on the Németkér fault line. The Austrians’ claim that the fault lines not only run under the site of the planned Paks II power plant, but also affect the current plant, could raise further serious problems.

MOL Hungary pipeline oil refinery bulgaria ukraine
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PM Orbán’s scarf scandal extends: Austria jokes, Slovakia horrified, Orbán reacted

PM Orbán scarf scandal

As we reported yesterday, PM Viktor Orbán wore a Greater Hungary scarf on Sunday’s Hungary-Greece friendly football match. The scarf depicts the silhouette of the borders of the Hungarian Kingdom, and neighbouring countries reacted harshly to what happened. Here is what the Slovaks and the Austrians said.

But why did Orbán wear such a provoking scarf? We do not know. But the fact is that he uploaded a video on his official Facebook page of the meeting with Balázs Dzsudzsák (whose last professional match was on Sunday against Greece) in the VIP lounge after the match wearing the scarf is questionable.

Of course, some neighbouring countries reacted quickly. First was the Romanian foreign ministry condemning the act. The second was Croatia, where the president said it was laughable and Hungary was the best neighbour of his country. Meanwhile, Ukraine summoned the Hungarian ambassador to Kyiv. Furthermore, Ukraine is waiting for an official apology from Hungary, Dmytro Kuleba, the country’s foreign minister, added.

PM Orbán Greater Hungary scarf
Read alsoPM Orbán in Greater Hungary scarf: Romanian government outraged

The Slovak and Austrian reactions came later yesterday. A spokesperson from the Austrian foreign ministry shrugged the issue off with a joke. “A quick glance at historical maps in the Viennese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed initial suspicions, according to which Transleithania (the Kingdom of Hungary) ceased to exist around 100 years ago,” politico.eu quoted him. “We will inform our Hungarian neighbours of this development at the earliest opportunity” he added.

However, the Slovaks were not in a humorous mood. Rastislav Káčer, the Slovak foreign minister, said the Hungarians living in Slovakia were at home and were citizens of the country. But irredentism and revisionism had no place in Slovak-Hungarian relations. He referred to the ongoing war in Ukraine and highlighted where such feelings might lead. He said the prime minister’s behaviour was disgusting, 444.hu said.

Andrej Stančík (OľaNO), Slovakia’s foreign secretary, also referred to Russia’s war in Ukraine and talked about the independence of Slovakia. He added he could not imagine why Orbán picked this particular neckwear. The Slovak vice president of the European Parliament, Michal Šimečka, said such scarves deny the existence of Slovakia. Therefore, they were dangerous symbols.

PM Orbán scarf scandal
Read alsoPM Orbán’s scarf scandal extends: Austria jokes, Slovakia horrified, Orbán reacted

The Czech foreign secretary, Jan Lipovsky, talked about provocation and expressed their understanding towards their Slovak friends in the issue.

Viktor Orbán tried to cut the story short with three short sentences he wrote on his Facebook page. He said that football was not politics and that the national team was the team of all Hungarians living all around the world. The prime minister will travel to Kassa (Kosice, Slovakia) on Thursday for a Visegrád Four summit, where he will probably have to explain the issue.

Interestingly, Serbia has not reacted yet on the issue despite having a Hungarian community of more than 200 thousand souls thanks to the Trianon and Paris treaties. Orbán said on Sunday that their football team would win the UEFA championships in Qatar. Maybe that is why Belgrade chose to remain silent on the matter.

trianon
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PHOTOS: Austrian vehicle developer inaugurated technology centre in Hungary

AVL technology centre inaugurated

Hungary’s role in automotive industry research and development is growing, outgoing Minister of Technology and Industry László Palkovics said on Wednesday, at the inauguration of a technology centre of Austrian vehicle developer AVL, at the ZalaZone test track in western Hungary.

The new facility will have place for 150 engineers and test pilots and a capacity to prepare 50 vehicles simultaneously, Palkovics said.

Palkovics noted that the Hungarian vehicle industry had performed a jump in the last decade, with the number of engineers in the sector rising from ca. 3,000 to over 10,000. The government has done everything in its power to support investments and to create the necessary background for R and D and education, he said.

The car industry’s value-added currently stands at 45-50 percent, with plans to increase it to 65 percent by 2030, he said.

Hungary, Austria, Serbia leaders to meet in Belgrade to talk about illegal migration

orbán vucic

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is scheduled to attend the second trilateral summit of the leaders of Hungary, Austria and Serbia in Belgrade on Wednesday, the PM’s press chief told MTI.

According to Serbian press reports, Orbán, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer will hold a press conference after the talks. The first such summit, focusing on efforts against illegal migration, was held in Budapest on 3 October, Bertalan Havasi said.

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Every fourth worker is Hungarian in this Austrian province

Austrian flag

In Burgenland, there is one Hungarian worker for every fourth Austrian. According to the Austrian Ministry of Economy, more than 21,000 Hungarians worked in the province in September. 

Every fourth worker is Hungarian

According to the September data series of the Austrian Ministry of Economy, 21,493 Hungarians work in Burgenland, of which 13,028 are men and 8,465 are women, reports nyugat.hu. If we compare this with the number of Austrian people, the data is even more shocking. Currently, 81,214 Austrian workers are registered in the province. This means that there is one Hungarian for every fourth worker.

The number of Hungarian workers far exceeds other nationalities in Austrian provinces

Although workers come from various nations to Burgenland, the number of Hungarians far exceeds other nationalities. Romanians are in second place with 2,271 workers, followed by Slovaks (2,098) and Germans (1,232). In addition, Croatian (682), Polish (628) and Bosnian (619) workers are also present in high numbers in Burgenland.

Hungarians work in these fields

According to ministry data, Hungarians in Burgenland mostly work in retail (2,522), construction (2,102), gastronomy (2005) and the hotel industry (1,662), writes penzcentrum.hu. The increase in the number of Hungarian workers in Burgenland is striking if we compare the data from 2008 with that of 2022. While in 2008, 8817 Hungarians worked in the Austrian province, in 2022, this number increased to 21,493.

Never before have so many Hungarians worked in Austrian lands

“We go to work in Austria because of financial security”, said one interviewee to nyugat.hu. More and more Hungarians decide to work in Austria, contributing to labour shortages in Western Hungary. And the main reason is the proximity to the border. Among others, many workers in the catering industry leave Hungary. Those who are ambitious, speak languages and can work, stay at home only in the rarest of cases. In Western Hungary, this is a very serious problem when it comes to the tourism and catering sectors. Moreover, the situation is similar in the trade and beauty industries.

budapest danube buda
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PHOTOS: Hungarian president gave lecture at an Austrian Catholic university

Hungary President Katalin Novák

Education and emphasising the importance of human life are key to a successful family policy, President Katalin Novák said at the ITI Catholic University in Austria on Thursday.

Novák’s lecture focused on the importance of the traditional family model, the role of grandparents, having children and ways to coordinate family life with a career. Hungary spends 5 percent of its GDP on family support and significant efforts are being made to enable everyone to have as many children as they wish, she said.

There has been a population decline since 1981 but thanks to government measures in the past ten years, the number of marriages doubled and the number of abortions halved, while the number of divorces also decreased, she added.

Novák said that Hungary’s constitution protects the institution of marriage as a union based on a voluntary decision between a man and a woman, as well as the family which forms the basis for the survival of the nation.

katalin novák president usa roller skates school
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Hungary and Austria agreed that their views differ on the anti-Putin sanctions

Hungary and Austria the two presidents

Europe needs easily traversable, open internal and secure external borders, President Katalin Novák told a press conference in Vienna on Thursday, after meeting her Austrian counterpart, Alexander Van der Bellen.

Novák told the joint press conference that they had touched on the war in Ukraine and the situation of Hungarians living there, energy independence, migration and the importance of the European Union’s enlargement in the Western Balkans. At the talks, Novák and Van der Bellen agreed that the two countries should have stable relations and be strong allies.

Regarding migration, Novák said Hungary was on the same page with Austria that accepting and helping refugees was a humanitarian task. At the same time, while regulating legal economic immigration could be a sovereign national decision, firm countermeasures are needed against illegal migration, she said.

Hungary wants the southern borders strengthened to stop illegal migration, including the border between Serbia and Macedonia, she said. At the same time, it has already received some 1 million refugees from Ukraine, and “right from the beginning, Hungarians and Austrians were on the side of those in need of help”.

Hungary fence border
Read alsoOrbán cabinet: Illegal entry attempts exceed 200,000 this year

“Hungary’s stance on the Russia-Ukraine war has always been unequivocal: we condemn Russian aggression and the military attack on a sovereign country, we do not recognise Russian sovereignty over the annexed regions, and support Ukraine in its fight,” she said. Hungary and Austria are both for achieving peace as soon as possible, she added.

Hungary also supports the EU integration of the Western Balkans, and enlargement is also in the EU’s interest, she said. Novák said some 115,000 Hungarians were working in Austria, contributing to Austrian economy, she said. An Austrian decision in 2019 to reduce family support for non-Austrian citizens impacted nearly 9,000 Hungarians working there, but since the regulation has been retracted, the affected families “can receive the support they are entitled to”, she said.

Van der Bellen told the press conference that Austria and Hungary had historically strong economic and cultural ties, and economic ties strengthened further recently. Austria is Hungary’s second most important trading partner and the third most important investor in the country, he said. Austrian exports to Hungary have grown by an annual 40 percent in 2022, and Hungarian exports to Austria by 18 percent, he said.

Regarding the war in Ukraine, Van der Bellen said “we in Austria might not be fully aware of the special significance of this war for Hungary, because of the Hungarian minority living in Ukraine,” which he said made the situation “especially worrisome” for Hungary. Austria sees sanctions as the only possible response to the aggression whipped up by Russian President Vladimir Putin, he said. He expressed hope that European countries will continue to stand by them and to “speak with one European voice”. Meanwhile, the Hungarian government regularly expresses that the sanctions do not work, they only help Putin and Russia to get wealthier. However, Novák did not mention those views during her visit, at least MTI did not say a word about such assertions from Hungary’s president.

Below you may check out some photos take during her official visit to Austria:

 

Gulyás Gergely
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Hungarian workers quit in droves to work in Austria

labour market audi

Never before have so many Hungarians worked across the border. Labour emigration is a serious problem for the economy of Western Hungary. Another trend shows that labour is coming from Kazakhstan and the Philippines because Hungarians do not want to work three shifts.

Hungarians working in Austria

“You know it’s not that complicated. We go to Austria to work for security, and security is mostly about money,” a worker in Austria told nyugat.hu.

According to most statistics, Western Hungary is the most developed in the country after Budapest. Low unemployment, above average salaries. More than 20,000 Hungarians work in Vienna. According to the latest statistics, more than 115,000 Hungarians work in Austria. However, Austria’s proximity is not only a blessing but also a curse.

Western Hungary is suffering from a chronic labour shortage. The pay gap makes it difficult for Hungarian companies to compete. The weakening of the forint exchange rate makes this even worse. Western Hungary, which relies on tourism and hospitality, is facing serious problems. For decades, loyal workers have been quitting and going to work in Austria.

Apart from the hospitality sector, the construction and beauty sectors are the most popular among Hungarians.

Hungary building BMW factory work worker
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Workers arrive in Hungary from Kazakhstan and the Philippines

Labour shortages are also a problem in other areas of Hungary. Ottó Sinkó, co-CEO of Videoton Holding Zrt., said that this year they are already receiving help from 50 Ukrainian workers.

“There is a very strong labour shortage in this industry, we also bring in labour from Kazakhstan and the Philippines by plane,” Attila Szincsák, vice-president of Denso Gyártó Magyarország Kft. told portfolio.hu.

“Today in Hungary, Hungarians don’t want to work in the engineering industry, in three shifts. It’s not by chance that we were looking for foreign workers,” Sinkó said.

Supply and demand are not balanced anywhere in the world today. A recession could reduce labour market problems.

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Forint plunge: Slovakians, Austrians swarm Hungarian markets

Slovakians Hungarians swarm Hungary forint

Residents of Slovakia have been using the euro since 2009. Austrians have been paying with the common currency of the EU for 23 years. Since the Hungarian forint has been breaking new historic lows against the dollar every week, more and more Slovakian and Austrian citizens decide to do their shopping in Hungary because their money is worth more than ever. Of course, not only Slovaks and Hungarians living in Slovakia come but also Austrians.

Austrians and Slovakians can buy much more for their euro

According to index.hu, three years earlier 1 EUR cost 330 forints. Last week, the exchange rate increased to 430 HUF/EUR. Some experts argue that it would continue to increase. Others warn of the importance of an agreement with the European Commission concerning the billions of euros locked in the EU funds.

The Hungarian central bank intervened on Friday. Thanks to a drastic interest rate rise, the forint’s exchange rate normalised a bit (418 HUF/EUR, 428HUF/USD), but its weakening is far from over, experts point out.

Based on a report from the Hungarian newspaper Új Szó in Slovakia, more foreigners swarm Hungarian supermarkets. Austrians and Slovakians can buy more for their money because of the weak forint. A resident from Rajka, a settlement close to the Slovakian-Hungarian border, said she could buy two times more meat for the same amount of money than in Slovakia. “That is a considerable difference”, she added. The situation is the same in the case of dairy products, vegetables, and fruits. Thus, those who can come to Hungary to do their shopping here.

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Even cheaper products are expensive for Hungarians

Index.hu writes that the number of dairy farms ceasing operation in Hungary is rising. That is because of the soaring energy prices and the drought hitting that segment of the Hungarian economy hard. Therefore, dairy product prices will continue to increase in Hungary. In the East part of the country, fodder is a big question mark, while the energy prices pose an insoluble challenge for everybody working in the country. And the question is no longer the quality but the quantity in that respect.

Index.hu reminds us that in July, Tesco started to import chicken breast from Slovakia because there was a shortage in Hungary. That may happen in the future in the case of the neighbours’ products. Thus, it might happen that Slovakians will come to Hungarian supermarkets to buy Slovakian chicken breast cheaper than they could in their country.

 

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