Breaking: Hungarian government to sue Spar
Proceedings will be launched in court for defamation of reputation, head of the PM’s office Gergely Gulyás said at the Cabinet Briefing on Thursday.
As we reported before, relations between the Hungarian government and the supermarket chain have become strained. In March, Hungarian transport minister János Lázár sent an open threat to the retail chain, which came after the CEO of Spar Austria told an Austrian news outlet that Hungarian PM Orbán wanted one of his relatives to invest in the company, which made the chain take out capital from the country.
Conflict between Spar and Hungarian government
Now, Index has reported that Gulyás has told the Austrian management of the supermarket chain, through members of the press, that
“proceedings will be initiated in court for breach of reputation”.
Daily News Hungary will report later on how the case continues.
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Attention: Budapest-Vienna railway line renovation continues in Hungary, timetable changes
The renovation of the Győr (Budapest-Vienna) railway line, which started last autumn, will continue from 27 April. The works will last until 9 May, during which time MÁV’s timetable on this main line will change.
MÁV will carry out track maintenance on the main Győr line (Budapest-Vienna) from mid-April to the beginning of July in several phases on different sections, based on the necessary technological specifications, the railway company said on Thursday.
The renewal will be a follow-up to the upgrade between Biatorbágy and Szárliget last autumn. Work on the line will run from 27 April to 9 May, between Bicske and Szárliget.
Timetable to change on the Budapest-Vienna line
MÁV said that on the Bicske-Szárliget line, track and switch adjustments, ballast replacement, track tension release and overhead line maintenance are carried out.
The maintenance on the Budapest-Győr-Hegyeshalom line will affect the S10, S12 and G10 trains, the Savaria ICs of Szombathely and the Sopron intercity trains, Világgazdaság writes based on MÁV.
The departure and arrival times of the majority of international trains, including railjets, will remain unchanged from the original schedule, but the Kálmán Imre EuroNight, the Dráva and the Mura IC will operate with a modified timetable.
In addition to the maintenance work carried out by MÁV, track reconstruction is also taking place between Ferencváros and Budapest-Kelenföld stations during the same period, so the experts took this into account when designing the timetables.
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Austria to extend border control at Hungarian border for 6 more months
Bad news for people heading to Austria: the country plans to extend internal border controls with Slovenia and Hungary for a further six months from mid-May, when the current measure expires.
Why is border control necessary?
Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner announced the news during a visit to the Slovenian border at Spielfeld. According to him, the measure is necessary to prevent illegal migration and people smuggling, SchengenVisaInfo reports.
Austria initially introduced internal control at its borders with Slovenia and Hungary in 2022 and has been extending the restrictions ever since, Travelo writes.
The last extension occurred in November 2023. Back then, Austria decided to maintain border controls between the two countries until May 2024. Minister Karner pointed out at the time that the internal border controls had already proved effective. He added that smugglers no longer chose his country as their route or main destination.
The latest measures and the increased pressure on the borders are having an effect, and human traffickers are already avoiding Austria,
SchengenVisaInfo quoted Gerhard Karner as saying.
Slovenia is against Austria’s decision
While Austria says that internal border controls are necessary to prevent illegal migration and people smuggling, Slovenia opposes the extension of the measure, arguing that the internal border controls that Austria has applied for years are not in line with EU law.
As internal border controls often cause delays even for EU citizens, Slovenia has called on Austria to end this measure. Despite this, the latter decided to maintain internal border controls until mid-November.
In addition to these two countries, Austria currently maintains internal border controls with the Czech Republic.
The Czech Minister of the Interior, Vít Rakusan, stressed that the controls that Austria continues to maintain have a minimal impact on cross-border movement and cause little, if any, inconvenience to Czech citizens crossing the border.
Slovenia also prolonged border control on the Hungarian border
As we reported last December, the Slovenian government decided to prolong strict border control on their borders with Hungary and Croatia. The extension lasts much longer than any of the previous ones: until 22 June 2024. The same extension applies to the Slovenian-Croatian border.
In December, Ljubjana said the reason behind the decision was the dangerous Middle East and Ukraine situation and the terrorist attacks committed in different EU member states. Authorities say terror danger is high in Slovenia, and if something menaces one Schengen member, it means the zone is under threat. They added that illegal migration increases security risks in the region.
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MÁV’s railway maintenance spells chaos for Budapest-Austria commutes
MÁV has announced that spring maintenance will continue on the railway line linking Budapest to Austria. Upgrading one of the two tracks will take place which will result in delays and extended travel duration for commuters.
MÁV’s railway maintenance
In the lead-up to last December’s timetable change, there was a large improvement project on the main Győr railway line spanning from Biatorbágy to Szárliget. This work covered an area of 29 kilometres and included complete track reconstruction which is being completed with necessary temperature-controlled finishings.
From the middle of April until early July, a set of maintenance activities are scheduled to happen along various parts of the track. These involve adjusting tracks and switches, replacing ballast, releasing track tension and carrying out overhead line maintenance in partnership with MÁV FKG’s (Structure Maintenance and Machine Repair) subsidiary. Additionally, platform asphalting in Biatorbány will continue, slated for the latter half of June, according to MÁV.
The forthcoming retrofitting during spring-summer will be conducted in phases and smaller sections, guaranteeing that the whole 29 kilometres are not disrupted all at once. During these phases, traffic will be kept on one track. This means that most of the trains can still run without needing substitute buses. However, due to single-track operation, there may be alterations to departure and arrival times and some trains may not cover their full routes.
In contrast to the previous maintenance, these upcoming works are not predicted to cause similar passenger inconvenience. The period of maintenance that lasts until July might slightly increase journey times by 5 to 20 minutes. Passengers will be given notice about these alterations beforehand so they can adjust their travel plans accordingly, with minimum disturbance.
The schedule of the maintenance
Maintenance work on the Budapest-Győr-Hegyeshalom line has been planned from the 15th of April until the early hours of the 27th of April. This will affect different trains like the S10, S12 and G10 trains as well as Savaria InterCitys from Szombathely, InterCity trains coming from Sopron and other international ones too.
The objective of this maintenance is to increase reliability and punctuality for train services on one of Hungary’s key transport routes after renovations done in the past autumn season. Most tasks are dependent upon temperature conditions such as constructing or welding seamless tracks; so they have been scheduled during springtime and summertime periods.
During the period between the 15th of April and the 27th of June, there will be intervals for track and switch adjustments along the open line between stations like Biatorbágy-Herceghalom, Bicske-Szárliget, as well as Herceghalom-Bicske. This involves the “breathing” of new gapless tracks installed in the autumn of 2023 and standardising temperature conditions.
The work will be done on one track at a time so that train services can continue without interruption on other tracks, impacting both domestic and international trains during day and night periods.
Maintenance work is ongoing on the catenary network, focusing on replacing longitudinal chains in sections where dismantling occurred during previous works, alongside inspections and periodic maintenance. This is happening along with inspections and periodical maintenance. A substructure problem near the lower Bicske stop from the 10th of May to the 20th of June will lead to a speed restriction of 40 km/h over a 400-metre area which will cause minor delays.
During this time, trains will run on one track between Herceghalom and Bicske. Maintenance happening from the 21st of June to the 1st of July will include station works at Bicske and Biatorbágy, affecting just night trains starting from the 28th of June. In late June, platform asphalting is planned at Biatorbágy station which is going to affect service on one platform temporarily. Track reconstruction continues between Ferencváros and Budapest-Kelenföld stations, which was taken into consideration for change in the timetable.
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PHOTOS: New train between Hungary and Austria – discover the world heritage landscapes!
The Fertő-táj train service will run between April and August this year between Sopron and Neusiedl am See in Austria.
Train between Hungary and Austria
The aim is to enable more people to visit the Hungarian and Austrian side of the Fertő Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in an environmentally friendly way, GYSEV Plc, the operator of the train service, told the Hungarian News Agency (MTI) on Saturday.
According to the announcement, the services will run on Saturdays and Sundays, until 25 August. The first train departed from Sopron to Austria today on Saturday.
The railway company has set up the timetable in such a way as to ensure optimal connections to the Fertő-táj trains for tourists arriving from Győr (Budapest) and Szombathely (Szentgotthárd), too, the statement said.
The services can be used by purchasing a Fertő Valley Discovery ticket (Fertő-táj felfedező jegy), which also provides free bicycle transport, they added.
Ticket prices and where to buy them
Find the ticket types and prices below:
|
Ticket types |
One-way ticket | 24-hour ticket |
48-hour ticket |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Adult |
3,00 € |
6,00 € |
8,00 € |
|
Child (6-15 years) |
2,00 € |
3,00 € |
4,00 € |
|
Senior |
3,00 € |
6,00 € |
8,00 € |
|
Bicycle, dog |
Free |
||
Fertő Valley tickets are available:
- at any GYSEV ticket office;
- at MÁV-START international ticket offices;
- online: on the MÁV-START website or the MÁV app;
- on GYSEV domestic trains (if no ticket office is available at the boarding station);
- on board the Fertő-táj trains, from the ticket inspector.
More information about the Fertő-táj trains commuting between Hungary and Austria can be found HERE.
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Tragic: Number of Hungarians leaving the country at historic high
The number of people leaving Hungary is at a historic high. More than 33 thousand people left the country just in 2023, which is the highest number since the Orbán cabinet came to power in 2010. The number of Hungarians who left the country between 2010 and 2024 is 324 thousand. Most choose to live elsewhere because of work or studying and do not want to come home to get much lower salaries, education, etc.
Number of emigrants at historic high
The majority of the Hungarian citizens leaving Hungary and going mostly to work or study in Western Europe is one of the most pressing problems of our country lately. The Hungarian government cannot find a solution since wages are much below the German or British level. They try to promote Hungary as being very safe compared to Western Europe, “conquered” by illegal migrants, but that is chiefly political communication. Only a few people come back compared to the masses that left.
According to 444.hu, in 2023, 33,700 Hungarians left the country, which is the highest number since 2010. The news outlet added they could not find earlier data about the emigration from Hungary. The Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH) compiled its list of target countries and numbers based on the interior ministry’s address registry and the social insurance registry of the NEAK.
Lots of people decide to leave Hungary each year
The current number is a rounded, preliminary number. In the last 14 years, 324,179 Hungarians left the country. That is more than Debrecen’s and Nyíregyháza’s number of citizens. In 2010, only 7,318 left, which grew to 32,852 by 2015, fell to 19,322 in 2020 and increased to 33,700 in 2023.
Because of Brexit, the popularity of Great Britain decreased. The most popular destination has become Austria since 2019. In 2023, more Hungarians moved there than the entire number of emigrants in 2010, 2011 and 2012.
Between 2019 and 2021, the number of emigrants remained below the number of Hungarian nationals coming back to Hungary. That is probably because of the coronavirus pandemic and Brexit.
Demographic deficit is critically high
The balance of those leaving Hungary and moving back stands at minus 105,119. That is the population of Kecskemét.
Hungary has been struggling with its demographic deficit since the 1980s. The number of births is below the number of deaths, and that difference has grown considerably in the last few decades. There is no cure for that, and emigration only made it worse.
As a result, the Hungarian government plans to attract hundreds of thousands of guest workers who do not have a chance to gain Hungarian citizenship but cause lower wages and anxiety among the populace thanks to the Orbán cabinet’s anti-migration campaign.
The natural population decline was 42 thousand in Hungary in 2023. Emigration and natural decline stand at 75 thousand. Meanwhile, 22 thousand Hungarians came back with lots of guest workers.
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Unexpected: The New York Times left Hungary!
The New York Times decided to leave Hungary this March. The paper is only available online.
According to Jöjj El Szabadság blog site, people who would like to read the American newspaper must buy an Austrian train ticket to get it. As an alternative, the digital edition remained for everybody else.
Attila Salamon, the CEO of Hungaropress Sajtóterjesztő Ltd., a company responsible for foreign paper distribution in Hungary, said “The New York Times left/leaving the smaller markets, including Hungary on 31 March 2024.” He added the decision was only motivated by business reasons.
The New York Times is created in three editions: New York, the United States and international. Hungary received the international version up until the end of March. The paper arrived from Germany’s VRM Druck GmbH & Co. KG press in Rüsshelm, Blikk wrote.
The New York Times leaves Hungary
Interestingly, the American paper decided to leave Hungary after they published several articles about the country. For example, they wrote even about Péter Magyar, the new “messiah” of the Hungarian anti-Orbán opposition (and the ex-husband of former Justice Minister Judit Varga). Moreover, they wrote about the death of composer Péter Eötvös and the unique Hungarian treeless canopy walkway for which the EU gave HUF 60 million (EUR 153,750).
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The new Iron Curtain: Huge outrage at the Hungarian–Austrian border
Tensions have been escalating at the Hungarian–Austrian border between Ágfalva and Schattendorf for over a year now. Various issues have arisen during this time, causing hardships for commuters. Now, a new problem looms on the horizon.
The stem of the problem
We have previously reported HERE that the Hungarian–Austrian border between Ágfalva and Schattendorf (Somfalva) in northern Burgenland had been closed for months due to unfinished construction, posing a challenge for Hungarian commuters. The Mayor of Schattendorf promised to allow “neighbourhood traffic” with a toll.
However, residents of Ágfalva were facing difficulties obtaining permission to cross, despite their willingness to pay. Concrete posts were installed and specific criteria have been implemented to restrict vehicular access, potentially indicating a desire to keep Hungarian commuters away rather than ensuring traffic safety as previously claimed.
Here you can watch a video of the situation:
Growing tension
As Világgazdaság writes, there was even a protest at the infamous Hungarian–Austrian border. from July a one-off fee of EUR 160 (HUF 62,700) must be paid by those wishing to cross the border between Schattendorf (Somfalva) and Ágfalva. This one-sided decision was made by the Austrian municipal authorities.
It is quite surprising that EUR 140 (HUF 54,900) of the compulsory fee can be later redeemed in Austrian shops. Despite that, it caused outrage among commuters.
A new problem at the Hungarian–Austrian border
If that wasn’t enough, a new issue has arisen, further complicating the lives of commuters. Telex reports that the crossing post system is currently out of order. This compels everyone to take an alternative route, including those who have successfully purchased the pass.
The posts have been cordoned off, thus only cyclists and pedestrians can cross. The Mayor of Schattendorf (Somfalva) informed the Austrian press that there had been instances of criminal mischief.. According to him, someone had drilled into the asphalt and damaged the line.
Past vandalism
Last year, shortly after its inauguration, the post system, known as the “new Iron Curtain”, came under attack. The card reader was knocked down, resulting in the closure of the Hungarian–Austrian border crossing for weeks.
The Austrian municipality is now considering installing video cameras at the border to safeguard the system. However, it remains uncertain whether this project will receive authorisation. In addition, the post system is also a subject of ongoing legal action. A law firm filed a lawsuit claiming that it violated the EU law regarding border crossing.
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Breaking: Budapest–Austria flights cancelled today
The Austrian subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group is cancelling nearly a hundred flights today, on 4 April. Two pairs of flights to Budapest are affected. Meanwhile, Lufthansa has come to an agreement with its employees.
Budapest–Austria flights cancelled today
While Lufthansa has managed to reach an agreement with its workers after several walkouts, the pilots and flight attendants of its Austrian subsidiary, Austrian Airlines, are holding a workers’ meeting on Thursday morning, organised by the Vida union, AIRportal.hu reports. This has led the airline to cancel or reschedule 92 flights. The passengers concerned have been informed.
Thursday morning (OS 713) and afternoon (OS 721) flights between Vienna and Budapest, as well as their return pairs (OS 714 and 722) have been cancelled.
Thursday morning (OS 713) and afternoon (OS 721) flights between Vienna and Budapest, as well as their return pairs (OS 714 and 722) have been cancelled. Only the OS 718 flight to Vienna at 06:50 and the OS 717 flight to Budapest at 22:15 will be operating on Thursday, according to the Budapest Airport Flight Information System.
According to AIRportal.hu, this is not the first walkout at the Austrian airline in recent weeks. A half-day partial stoppage in mid-March and a 36-hour full stoppage at the end of the month took place due to stalled wage negotiations.
Lufthansa reaches wage agreement with employees
Meanwhile, Lufthansa reached an agreement with the ground staff union Verdi in the last days of March, following strikes since the beginning of the year. As a result, the airline has concluded a new collective agreement with its ground handling staff, as well as with Lufthansa Technik and Lufthansa Cargo employees. The agreement includes an average wage increase of 12.5% in two steps and other elements.
European low-cost carriers see increase in passenger traffic
European low-cost airlines saw a significant increase in passenger traffic in March: Ryanair and Wizz Air both benefited from the early spring upturn in travel, Világgazdaság reports. Both airlines reported dynamic growth in passenger traffic on Wednesday, although they did not manage to increase their load factors.
Ryanair, Europe’s leading airline, carried 13.6 million passengers last month. That is one million/8% more than this time last year. Wizz Air had 12% more passengers in March than a year ago, which represents 4.8 million customers for the low-cost carrier.
A record 183.7 million passengers chose Ryanair in the 2023-2024 financial year ended in March, beating last year’s passenger traffic record by 9%. Wizz Air outperformed its Irish competitor with a 21% increase for the full financial year, flying 62 million passengers by the end of March.
Read also:
- Discover a hidden gem: Wizz Air relaunches flights to the Eastern European capital
- What happened to Wizz Air? Hungarian airline changes name (1 April)
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Long overdue: New FLIRT Intercity trains revolutionise Hungarian railways
Stadler and Győr-Sopron-Ebenfurt Railways (GYSEV) Ltd. have recently concluded a contract for the provision of nine FLIRT Intercity electric multiple units, with an option for an additional four. These trains are scheduled for service on the Sopron-Budapest and Szombathely-Budapest routes starting in 2027.
The dual-current vehicles are designed for seamless travel across Hungary and Austria, offering versatility and efficiency. These state-of-the-art five-car trainsets are being manufactured at Stadler’s Szolnok plant. The supply contract will come into effect upon the finalisation of a financing agreement with GYSEV, which secures a European Investment Bank (EIB) loan to facilitate the procurement, as reported by infostart.hu.
GYSEV Ltd. has a three-month window after the contract takes effect to determine the number of optional trains it will order. The delivery timeline indicates that Stadler will deliver the first vehicle 36 months after the contract enters into force, with the final unit of the initial order entering service within 44 months. Subsequently, Stadler will have an additional two years to acquire the required licenses for operating the trains in Austria.
In three procurement rounds between 2013 and 2019, the railway company ordered a total of 20 FLIRT trains from Stadler, marking the first acquisition of new intercity trains in Hungary in three decades.
The new GYSEV trains
The new intercity vehicles represent a departure from the existing GYSEV fleet, featuring a maintenance-friendly design and state-of-the-art electric traction motors that enhance energy efficiency, therefore reducing overall lifetime costs. These five-carriage trains, capable of speeds up to 160 kilometres per hour, span 106.2 metres in length and offer flexible seating arrangements to accommodate seasonal demands.
In winter, the configuration includes 280 seats, including 32 in first class, while in summer, the seating is adjusted to accommodate up to 18 bicycles in response to increased demand for bicycle transportation.
The new vehicles, built to meet recently implemented international standards, boast modern amenities such as advanced passenger information systems, security cameras and charging sockets for electronic devices.
Additionally, they feature air-conditioned, low-floor passenger compartments and disabled-accessible toilets. According to the announcement, the FLIRT model is Stadler’s highly successful product with over 2,500 units sold across 21 countries since 2002. In Hungary alone, GYSEV operates 20 of these vehicles, while MÁV operates 123. Notably, Stadler’s Szolnok Factory has contributed to the production of nearly 1,000 FLIRT trains, equating to 3,883 carriages.
The signed order includes the potential production of up to 65 Flirt Intercity carriages for GYSEV in Szolnok, subject to the total number of option orders received. Stadler, renowned for manufacturing large railway locomotives, switching locomotives and passenger coaches, has a workforce of approximately 14,000 employees. The group is headquartered in Bussnang, Eastern Switzerland.
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Urgent Changes: Budapest flights cancelled, strike threatens to ruin Easter plans
Flights operated by Austrian Airlines in Budapest have been cancelled at the beginning of the Easter travel season due to an upcoming strike by the airline’s employees on Thursday and Friday. Passengers are advised to exercise caution as airlines may not always adhere to compensation rules during disruptions.
A strike in Austria has disrupted air travel during the busy Easter holidays, affecting tens of thousands of passengers, including Hungarians, and impacting the start of the regional tourism season, according to Economx.
The dispute between the Vida union, representing flight and ground staff, and the employer remains unresolved, leading to a warning strike by 3,500 workers of Austrian Airlines from midnight Thursday to midday Friday. The airline has cancelled 400 flights, affecting around 50,000 passengers who will be notified directly.
This strike underscores a significant divide between worker and company interests, resulting in losses for the airline and the tourism industry due to cancelled trips.
Hungarian travellers flying between Budapest and Vienna are also facing disruptions due to the Austrian Airlines strike. Flights from Budapest to Vienna and vice versa have been cancelled, causing inconvenience for passengers.
Austrian Airlines’ strike is part of broader labour unrest within Lufthansa (the parent company of Austrian Airlines), where workers are demanding higher wages. The strike is expected to result in significant financial losses for Austrian Airlines and highlights disparities in pay between Lufthansa and its subsidiary’s employees.
Compensation for cancelled flights
The Austrian Agency for Passenger and Passenger Rights advises affected passengers to contact their airline for compensation. Options include a refund, an alternative flight or a similar destination.
Compensation amounts vary based on factors such as cancellation notice period and differences in alternative transport options. Typically, no compensation is offered if passengers are informed less than seven days before the flight, and the alternative flight is within a certain time frame of the original schedule.
Impact on tourism
The escalating wage dispute and strikes in the transport sector, such as the recent one affecting Austrian Airlines, signify significant labour-management conflicts or wide gaps in wage negotiations.
Gábor Varga, an aviation expert, noted to Economx that strikes during peak travel seasons like Easter can lead to substantial losses for airlines, passengers and tourism as well. The timing of the strike during a busy travel period can disrupt travel plans for migrant workers, leisure travellers and families on school holidays, potentially causing travellers to postpone or cancel their trips.
What to expect in the following season?
Passengers should remain vigilant regarding flight cancellations caused by strikes, as airlines may not always fulfil compensation obligations. While airlines often cite strikes as “extraordinary circumstances” to avoid compensation, a European Court of Justice ruling clarified that strikes organised by an airline’s staff union for wage negotiations do not qualify as such.
However, distinctions are made between strikes by airline staff, airport employees, or air traffic controllers; only strikes by the airline’s own employees require compensation. Passengers should be aware of their rights and potential compensation entitlements in such situations.
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Foreign Minister: Central Europe fully backs Hungarian EU Presidency’s expansion plan
Central European countries fully support Hungary’s policy of promoting the EU integration of Western Balkan countries during its EU presidency in the second half of the year, Péter Szijjártó, the foreign affairs and trade minister, said in Ljubljana on Tuesday.
EU presidency and the Western Balkans
He told a press conference after a meeting of the foreign ministers of the C5 format of the Central European countries, Austria, Czechia, Hungary, Slovakia, and Slovenia, that security must be reinforced, the European Union needs new vigour, and enlargement will be centre stage during Hungary’s presidency starting in July.
Integrating countries of the Western Balkans could energise the EU, and central European member states should take on special responsibility accordingly, according to a ministry statement quoted Szijjártó. He added that whereas they openly and genuinely backed enlargement, others elsewhere merely gave the impression of doing so in public while actually blocking the process.
Genuine supporters, he said, were in the minority, and so he urged central European countries to join forces and “promote the cause”. He said all sides at the meeting supported Hungary’s related goals.
Szijjártó noted that the five Western Balkan countries had been waiting to join the EU “for 14 years and 10 months on average”. “This shows the real attitude of the community,” he said, and pledged that Hungary would “work to change that vigorously”.
“We Hungarians will do everything to bring the Western Balkan countries closer to the European Union,” he said.
Immigration
On the subject of restoring security, Szijjártó called for increased efforts to stop illegal immigration, and said its causes should be dealt with in the countries of origin, while protection of the external borders should be intensified “just as Hungary has done”.
He said the Hungarian government considered border violations as attacks against the country’s sovereignty, adding that rounding up people smuggling gangs was crucial.
“Criminals and migrans have fired shots at border guards on several occasions, which is completely unacceptable… We do not need such people in the EU,” he said.
The minister said pull factors of illegal migration should be reduced, adding that mandatory distribution quotas “act in just that way”.
- also read: Czech police cease assistance at Hungarian-Serbian border, citing drop in illegal migration
Gaza, Ukraine
Answering a question, Szijjártó confirmed the government’s support for any initiative aimed at freeing hostages held in Gaza, including a Hungarian national.
The success of Israel’s anti-terrorism operation, he said, was of global importance, but “saving the civilians should also be an important aspect.”
Regarding Ukraine, he mentioned that over one million refugees had crossed into Hungary since the outbreak of the war. He said “neither side can win on the battlefield” and the armed conflict could only be resolved through negotiations; “the question remains when, and it would be sooner than later.” “The sooner there is a ceasefire and peace talks, the fewer people will die and destruction will be less detrimental.”
Hungarian expressway to soon connect to Austrian A2 motorway
Another section of the S7 expressway in Austria has been completed. With only ten kilometers remaining, the Hungarian M80 expressway will be connected to the Austrian A2 motorway. The completion of the Austrian S7 expressway is planned for 2025.
The M80 expressway linking Körmend to the Austrian border at Rábafüzes was opened almost two years ago. The road is ready up to the Hungarian-Austrian border; however, from there, there is no continuation. Thus, after the border, the old roads have to be used in Austria, Nyugat.hu reports.
A2 motorway to be connected to Hungarian M80 expressway
The S7 expressway in Austria will link the A2 motorway and the Hungarian M80 expressway at Rábafüzes. Our Western neighbour has been planning and building the S7 expressway for some time. The S7 expressway’s tunnel at Rudersdorf was completed in early April last year, and the section between the A2 and Rudersdorf was finished by the end of the year.
Another section has now been completed. From Saturday, motorists will be able to use the expressway from the A2 all the way to Dobersdorf, orf.at reports. Dobersdorf is just ten kilometres from the Austrian-Hungarian border, which is all that is missing from the S7.
Austrian S7 expressway to be completed by 2025
Completion of the expressway is planned for 2025, which, at the current rate, is likely to be achieved. When the Austrian S7 expressway is completed, it can be linked to the Hungarian M80 expressway. What is more, it will also be linked to the M86, which is currently being planned and will connect to the M80. Like this, the Hungarian M86 expressway will be connected to the A2 motorway and the European motorway network.
Relatively new motorway closed in Hungary
As we reported earlier, the M30 motorway was opened two years ago. By now, cracks on it have become so bad that the operator has closed it for several months. The section was built by the Austrian Strabag, which was ordered by the Hungarian state to carry out the repairs.
It was only 2.5 years ago, in October 2021, that the section of the M30 was opened to traffic. A month ago, the motorway was closed with immediate effect, and the road construction company (Strabag) has been called upon by the operator, the Hungarian Concession Infrastructure Development Plc. (MKIF) to start the warranty repairs as soon as possible.
The restriction between the 33 Miskolc-North junction and the 40 Szikszó junction will be in force from 17 February to 17 August in both directions. This means that a large section of a relatively new motorway will be closed for half a year due to its catastrophic state.
László Szimicsku, communications director of MKIF, said that as operators, they had maintained traffic as long as possible. Still, the displacement had become so great that they had no choice but to close the road completely. A 100-150 metre wide section of the track is sunken due to the displacement of its structure. The latter is 10-12 metres of soil, Simicsku explained.
The M30 motorway was opened to traffic in October 2021. The project, which started in 2018, cost a total of HUF 200 billion (EUR 514 million), making it one of the largest projects of the previous EU cycle. The Hungarian state, the investor, called on the Austrian Strabag to carry out the warranty restoration works according to the schedule.
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Austria hails Hungary Helps programme
Austria has hailed the results of Hungary Helps as “exemplary,” the government official in charge of the program said after meeting the Austrian minister for women and integration in Vienna on Monday.
Tristan Azbej, the state secretary for helping persecuted Christians abroad and the Hungary Helps programme, met Susanna Raab, and said the consultation was a part of exchanges of knowledge and experiences between the Austrian and Hungarian governments related to Hungary’s policy of helping persecuted Christians.
Following Hungary’s example, Austria established a special government unit within the Chancellery to help persecuted Christian minorities at the start of the year, and its head made his first foreign visit to Budapest, Azbej noted.
Both sides, he said, held the view that helping people suffering persecution was bound up with European Christian identity. Yet, within the European Union, the issue of religious freedom outside of Europe was rather neglected, and people in the Western world were trying to keep the issue of Christian persecution quiet.
They also agreed that as well as combatting anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, the international community should protect the rights of persecuted Christians who deserve humanitarian aid.
Both Austria and Hungary will take action against religious persecution within the EU and exchange information on the number of persecuted Christians in the world, he said.
He said the countries would also examine possibilities for specific joint assistance programs, noting that Christian charity Missio Austria aids Christians living in Aleppo, Syria. He added that the sides plan to increase such cooperation at a higher government level.
read also:
- Hungarian government continues to be ready to contribute to international humanitarian aid, details HERE
- Azbej discusses joint efforts to mitigate crises in Europe, Africa, details HERE
German company invests a lot of money in Hungary
German automotive industry supplier Schedl will invest 40 billion forints (EUR 101m) in wheel assembly capacity in the Hungarian cities of Debrecen and Kecskemét, Péter Szijjártó, the minister of foreign affairs and trade, announced on Friday.
Schedl will supply the local manufacturing bases of BMW and Mercedes-Benz from 2025, Szijjártó said. The state is supporting the investment, which will create 160 jobs, with 2 billion forints, he added.
Foreign minister: Hungary fights for ‘real European democracy’ with Austrian right
Hungary’s government and the Austrian right are fighting together for “real democracy” in Europe, so that those who stand up for their national interests and have a different position to the mainstream are not stigmatised, Péter Szijjártó, the foreign minister, said in Budapest on Friday.
The cooperation between Hungary’s government and the Austrian right will “contribute to our ability to preserve our sovereignty and bring to a halt the European Union’s federalisation efforts”, Szijjártó told a joint press conference with Petra Steger, a spokesperson of Austrian’s Freedom Party (FPO), according to a ministry statement.
“We both want to see a successful Europe, but we are certain that Europe can only be successful if it is made up of strong nations,” Szijjártó said.
In addition, he called security an important basis for success, which, he said, made it necessary to finally stop illegal migration, to protect the external borders, and to realise that the war raging in Ukraine had no solution on the battlefield.
“Therefore, the Austrian right and the Hungarian government will take a joint stand to ensure that there is a ceasefire and negotiations in Ukraine as soon as possible,” he said.
‘We can always count on Austria’s Freedom Party’
Szijjártó then noted that this year will be special for both countries as Hungary will take over the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU in July and elections will be held in Austria.
“We are both interested in stopping this European decline, and we both believe that the only way to do that would be to achieve a massive right-wing shift in the European parliamentary elections,” he said.
The minister added that they also had the same view on the EU sanctions against Russia, through which, he said, Europe had “shot its economy in the foot, the knee, and then the lungs”, adding that a review of the punitive measures would be necessary.
“We are grateful that we can always count on Austria’s Freedom Party in difficult moments,” Szijjártó said. “And we continue to be ready to cooperate with the Austrian right in order to create a successful and democratic Europe.”
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Mfor: Orbán cabinet will squeeze foreign supermarket chains, Spar remains a target
Targeted audits and tax increases are expected in Hungary to bleed out foreign supermarket chains like Spar. Yesterday, János Lázár, Hungary’s construction minister, sent an open threat to the Austrian chain and other foreign companies, saying those foreign chains that do not respect Hungarians should leave the country. It seems the Orbán government will help some of them do so.
Orbán cabinet wants to reduce the foreign companies’ market share
According to mfor.hu, the Orbán cabinet aims to reduce the market share of foreign companies in the food retail sector. Nándor Mester, the editor in chief of mfor.hu, told ATV that targeted tax audits and tax increases await the foreign supermarket chains in the Hungarian food retail sector. Furthermore, he expects significant fines from the Hungarian Competition Authority (GVH).
Mr Mester added that interfering in the market processes with regulation is a common practice in the European Union. However, the extent of that regulation is not all the same. And it should not be used as a tool to help Hungarian companies acquire a higher rate of the market.
Mr Lázár made it clear before that helping the Hungarian food retail companies advance in the sector is one of the goals of the Orbán cabinet. However, mfor.hu’s editor-in-chief believes the government should increase their competitiveness with preferential loans instead of political and economic means.
Foreign companies are more effective
It happened before that the government gave some money to Hungarian companies in the construction sector, and that resulted in the decrease of the market share of the foreign raw material suppliers. But in the food retail sector, competition is brutal. Multinational companies buy immense amounts of products (for a lower price), extend their activity to Europe, have a strong logistics background and organise processes more effectively. As a result, they can keep their prices low.
Gábor Csongár, a tax expert, said the Hungarian government may increase extra taxes. However, both agreed that Spar would not leave Hungary since they would not let their investments perish. Instead, they will fight even in Brussels.
Minister: “We can swim against Spar*”
Lázár said yesterday that he did not want to squeeze out the Austrian company and the multinationals in general, of the country. He just wants to force them to “respect the people, the consumers, the government and the country where they make huge extra profits.”
“We can swim against Spar*. The company will pay the price for what it has done in the past few days,” Lázár said in his heated speech. (*In Hungarian, he said “a Sparral szemben”, which is a word play on “az árral szemben”, which means “against the current” – ed.)
We wrote HERE that Orbán’s oligarchs wanted to buy shares in the Spar, but its Austrian owners rejected the idea. The head of the company said then that they would not leave Hungary. Spar is the second-biggest food retail firm in Hungary. They modified the operation of their Hungarian subsidiary to protect it from “Orbán’s hands”.
Jobbik leader asks Integrity Authority review on Spar allegations
Opposition Jobbik-Conservatives are turning to the Integrity Authority with a request that it examine whether a criminal act was committed in connection with allegations concerning Austrian supermarket chain Spar.
Spar’s head told media outlets that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had tried to convince Spar to sell a minority stake to one of his relatives, Márton Gyöngyösi, the party’s leader, told a press conference on Friday, adding that when the Hungarian government introduced a special tax on various foreign subsidiaries, it was a form of “blackmail” aimed at getting the companies to sell business stakes to friends or family members of the prime minister or other government members.
Gyöngyösi suggested that this was the reason why Spar had submitted a complaint to the European Commission and the EU budget committee. He also suggested that this could be the reason why an EU country report said last year that the government regularly harassed foreign investors in Hungary.
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Surprising details emerged about the Chinese police officers serving in Hungary
The Hungarian interior minister shared new details about the powers the Orbán government plans to grant the Chinese police officers serving in Hungary.
Chinese police officers in Hungary
According to 24.hu, Bence Tordai, a lawmaker of Párbeszéd – Dialogue for Hungary, a Hungarian micro party, submitted the relevant questions about the future powers of the Chinese police officers in Hungary. The Hungarian government agreed to invite police officers from China to serve in Hungary in February with China’s national security minister.
Bence Rétvári, the government’s secretary responsible for interior affairs, answered Tordai’s question. He said the Chinese police officers will not have power of action in Hungary. Nor will they have police powers in the country. Furthermore, they must not patrol alone, only with a Hungarian partner.
According to economx.hu, an officer from China cannot demand anybody’s papers. They added that Hungarian police officers regularly serve in Croatia during the summers (helping the Hungarian tourists there). Moreover, Austrian police officers also served at Lake Balaton to help Austrian and German tourists. Austrian police officers came, and Hungarian colleagues went to Croatia after bilateral agreements.
Chinese intervention in Hungary’s grand surveillance program?
Rétvári added that officers from China would be able to help their Hungarian colleagues overcome the language barrier with Chinese nationals. They will also help protect the interests of tourists coming from China to Hungary.
Tordai also asked the government about possible cooperation with the Chinese in establishing the interior ministry’s central surveillance system called “Szitakötő” (dragonfly). The system will be able to detect in seconds any wanted vehicles or persons if they are in the field of vision of any single camera of the system. According to the plans, the Hungarian government aims to set up 35,000 cameras. According to a 2019 article, the costs might reach HUF 40 billion (EUR 100 million). Rétvári said China did not contribute to creating the system.
Secret Chinese police stations in Budapest?
We wrote about a so-called Chinese police service centre operating in Budapest in 2022. NGO Safeguard Defenders found that the government of China established 54 illegal police stations in 21 countries. They call them police service centres, and most of them are in Europe. According to the list, one is in Budapest, and an opposition MP tried to find out more about the venue. Read the story in THIS article.
Read also:
- China, Hungary to conduct joint patrols – Read more HERE
- Appalling? Chinese police officers to soon patrol in Hungary – Details in THIS article
Featured image: depositphotos.com
Government rejects SPAR’s ‘false claims’ regarding measures to bring down inflation
The National Economy Ministry called communication by the Austrian owner of SPAR supermarkets in Hungary on government measures to bring down inflation “malicious” and “false” in a statement issued on Monday.
The ministry noted that government measures requiring big supermarket chains to comply with price caps on staples and offer regular discounts had helped reduce double-digit inflation to 3.7 percent in February, while revenue from a windfall profit tax on the retail sector had been channeled into a fund to keep household utilities prices down.
The ministry acknowledged that SPAR “disagreed” with those measures but said its behaviour ran “counter to the interests of Hungarian consumers”.
The ministry said SPAR’s “attacks” against the government were driven rather by the “loss-making position” of its local business which had “fallen behind the competition”.
“Instead of taking steps to boost its efficiency and competitiveness…[SPAR] is spreading baseless fake news,” it added.
“Only companies that comply with the law and take into consideration the interests of local consumers, by offering them products that are of good quality at good prices, can stay in Hungary,” the ministry said.
As we wrote earlier, the supermarket chain SPAR intends to file a complaint with the European Union concerning a special tax imposed by the Hungarian Government, details HERE.