France

Free entry French Institute celebration starting today in Budapest

Le Marché Français 2023 – Bal de rue, guinguette, Bastille Day and French food & wine market all in one at Pala utca with open air events and concerts.

THE BIG SUMMER BASTILLE DAY PARTY AT LE TROQUET

As always at Le Troquet, we would like to properly start the summer with a 3-days-long open-air French market! You read it right, this year for our beloved Bastille day we are organizing an event for the whole week end! Who’s ready to taste, feel and experience France for its national holiday? After the big success of last year’s Bal de rue, which was attended by over 3000 happy customers, we would like to come back with an even bigger format, a French food & wine market for 3 days in a row (and it will still be for free). Here are some photos to get you into the mood:

Since we know that it’s not all about eating cheese and sipping wine or champagne this year we will host many concerts, live performances, dj sets and street art events to entertain you while you taste France! Happy customers will have the choice between all kind of French food ranging from cheese to croissants all the way to the beloves snails and much more. On the wine side all regions of our beautiful France will duly be represented, Bordeaux, Bourgogne, Pays d’OC and of course, Champagne…You got it…

Le Troquet’s team is once again dedicated to organize for you some of the most amazing daytime activities and nighttime parties during these hot and sunny months of the summer in Budapest city. What about the venues?

14 OF JULY PROGRAM & LINEUP

10h00 – 22h00 Market
15h00 – 16h00 official inauguration
16h00 – 17h00 broadcast of the Tour de France
17h00 – 18h00 Animations Tour de France
18h00 – 19h30 Danea concert
19h30 – 21h00 Cece & Viktor concert
21h00 – 22h00 Max & Kata concert
22h00 – 23h00 DJ n°1

15 OF JULY PROGRAM & LINEUP (Bal de rue & Guinguette)

10h00 – 22h00 Market
17h00 – 19:00: Creative construction workshop for children and adults with the association. An Eiffel Tower will be built from recycled wood on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the death of Gustave Eiffel.
20h00 – 21h00: On pointillist arrangements of guitars, pianos and electronic programming, the French singer-songwriter performs sweet songs in a slender voice that evokes the lost paradise of childhood. The intimate black dog songs make you want to dance above the void and hum along with a nod of your head.
21h00 – 22h00: Special invitation from the group 𝐄𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐞. A daring mix of jazz and songs inspired by world music, the group’s pieces will be performed by the two singers, Izabella Caussanel and Lilla Orbay, in Hungarian, French and English.
22h00 – 23h00: 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐏 will be mixing a house set.
23h00-00h00 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐭 will hit the decks for a French-trend disco house set

16 OF JULY PROGRAM & LINEUP

10h00 – 14h00 Market, games for children, animations

Location

The event will take place right in front of our bistrot, in the beautiful Pala utca that will for the occasion be completely privatized for us, a magnificent street with an amazing view of the Danube river and the Parliament in the heart of Budapest. The address is Pala utca in the 1st district, click HERE for the map.

Complete privatization of the Pala u. street! One minute from Tram stop, 5 minutes from Batthyány tér metro station Terrace with Parliament view + big festival private area. From Thursday to Sunday – July 13 to 16.

Service

A Big buvette with beer, Ricard & new products
French Wine bar
Gin bar and French cocktail + spirit
Champagne bar
French Sandwich (yes, du jambon beurre, pâté rillettes…)
Croissants et produits de pâtisserie française
Raclette Sandwich
Ice cream
French Tacos
Quiche and prepared dish with sauce
French cheese and charcuterie

Partners

Links

Free entry!

July 14, 2023

French Institute Budapest to host Eiffel workshop and street party in July

The French Institute in Budapest will organise an Eiffel architecture workshop, free concerts, a gastronomy show and a street party on 15 July, to celebrate the national holiday of France.

The architecture workshop for children and adults will put in focus the Eiffel Tower, to mark the 100th birth anniversary of Gustave Eiffel, the institute told MTI in a statement.

The gastronomy show will offer visitors French cheese specialties, bakery products, sweets and wine and raclette, among others.

In the evening, pianist chien noir will give a pop concert, to be followed by the French-Hungarian Ephemer duo performing jazz and world music.

In a closing programme, a street party will be held with the public invited to join.

July 7, 2023

Hungary’s average statutory monthly pay has the 4th biggest increase in the world

New research has revealed Hungary’s average statutory monthly pay has increased by 9.03 per cent since 1998, the 4th biggest increase in the world.

The study, from job-search experts Lensa, analyzed the average statutory monthly pay in each OECD country from 1998 to 2021 to determine the locations which have seen the greatest increase in pay.

The countries with the biggest increase in monthly pay:

Rank	Country	1998-2021 Average Increase
1.	Latvia	10.17 per cent
2.	Lithuania	9.81 per cent
3.	Czech Republic	9.61 per cent
4.	Hungary	9.03 per cent
5.	Poland	7.77 per cent
6.	Slovenia	5.96 per cent
7.	Spain	4.74 per cent
8.	Australia	4.68 per cent
9.	Ireland	4.59 per cent
10.	Costa Rica	4.49 per cent

The research also revealed that Canada is the country with the largest difference in work-hour limits. The legal statutory hour’s people are allowed to work changed from 48 to 40 hours between 1996 and 2020. Italy, like Canada, has reduced the number of working hours from 48 to 40, while France is third on this list.

Latvia is the country with the best GDP per hour worked, with a 4.63 per cent increase from 1995 to 2021 indicating steady growth of the Latvian economy and efficiency of workers. Hungary ranks ninth in this respect with 2.88 percent.

Luxembourg is the country with the biggest change in hours worked, dropping by 0.70 per cent. While the statutory maximum work hours is 40 in Luxembourg, data show that as of 2021, people in Luxembourg work on average around 29 hours per week.

You can view the full research here.

July 6, 2023

Szijjártó: Integration in Western Europe a failure

Hungary foreign minister Péter Szijjártó

Recent developments in France “clearly indicate the failure of efforts aimed at social integration in western Europe,” Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó told lawmakers on Tuesday.

“It has now become clear that it is impossible to integrate migrants illegally arriving in large masses from different cultures,” the foreign ministry quoted Szijjártó as saying.

“Those with the vain hope that western Europe’s integration endeavours could succeed … have seen the reports from France and are now disappointed,” the minister said. In many countries “parallel societies” have evolved and “in many cases the quiet majority is terrified … but no tragedy will make those in Brussels come to their senses,” Szijjártó said.

“Tragedies in the Mediterranean, accidents in which people are killed, disturbances in large cities and thousands of burning cars will not be enough,” he added.

People have the clear expectation that “the well-paid European bureaucrats in Brussels” should ensure the protection of the community’s residents, its borders, and they should stop migration, and “destroy the business model of people smugglers”, the minister said.

“But the Brussels bureaucracy is again striving to press through the mandatory migrant quota in a coup-like way,” he said.

“By definition, migrants forcing their entry through Hungary’s southern border are not refugees, since there is no war in Serbia and nobody’s life is in danger,” he said, adding that under international law people fleeing war should be granted temporary asylum “in the first safe country” they enter. Those who cross the Serbia-Hungary border “illegally, forcefully … violate Hungary’s sovereignty and its rules and should have no place in Hungary,” he said.

Contrary to the values and rules of the bloc, the EU is withholding funds due to Hungary for political reasons, he said, adding that Hungarians had “exercised their sovereign rights and decided on Hungary’s future” in a way that “liberal mainstream in Brussels” could not abide, and were being punished for doing so.

Szijjártó said 2.5 years into the seven-year budget cycle Brussels was already turning to member states for more resources, adding that spending “billions of euros” on military support for Ukraine and delivering arms which prolonged the war was “totally unreasonable”. Sanctions, he added, were damaging the European economy even when Europeans were not responsible for the war.

“What is enough for Brussels!?” Szijjártó asks:

Meanwhile, Brussels was asking Hungary to abolish of its scheme to keep utility bills low, “while European bureaucrats ask for millions and billions of euros for their own salaries”, he said, adding that “the bureaucrats” had failed to take “a single step towards peace”. Also, he said European competitiveness had dropped off a cliff “and European citizens have no money”.

The minister said it should be made clear why EUR 70 billion was spent on in Ukraine and why that sum was not enough.

Szijjártó asked: “Where is Hungary’s and Poland’s money? Do they still have this money?” Had it been channelled to other purposes? Also, why was extra money needed to finance interest on recovery loans when Hungary and Poland “has not received a single cent from this fund”?

“Hungary won’t abandon its utility cuts and it won’t give a single cent to raise the salaries of European bureaucrats,” he said. Further, the money of European citizens must not go to Ukraine until the EUR 70 billion spent so far has been accounted for, Szijjártó added.

July 4, 2023

Europe’s 20 richest cities in culture named, Budapest to be proud of

We can be proud of Budapest again, as the Hungarian capital has been named one of the best cultural cities in Europe.

Europe’s rich history, diverse heritage and vibrant artistic scene have always been a treasure trove of cultural wonders. From ancient architectural marvels to modern art centres, the continent boasts a wealth of cultural hotspots that never fail to capture the hearts and minds of travellers, writes Helló Magyar.

Founded in 2012 in the UK and Ireland, weloveholidays is the fastest-growing online travel company and is already fully operational in Germany. The company has published new data for those looking to explore new cultures.

Their travel experts analysed a number of factors, including the number of museums, libraries, art galleries, theatres, opera houses and attractions. The resulting list includes 50 European cities.

Dr Jan Kuklinski, CEO of weloveholidays, said:

“For anyone who wants to explore new cultures, spend time in an art gallery or listen to opera, our index provides great insights into places that are ready to be discovered.”

TOP 5

Unsurprisingly, London has the most museums (195) and art galleries (258), making it the centre of England’s cultural capital of Europe. London is home to iconic places such as the Natural History Museum, the V&A, the Jack the Ripper Museum and the famous Sherlock Holmes Museum.

Paris, the pride of France, came second. The city of love is home to a total of 1,000 sights, including the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and the Arc de Triomphe. Paris is also home to the second largest number of theatres in Europe, with 152 in total, perhaps the most famous being the legendary Moulin Rouge.

In third place is the city of Rome, which has the most libraries on the continent (81), some of which are tourist attractions in their own right. The Angelica library, for example, houses a whole range of Italian theatrical and literary works from the 15th to 18th centuries.

Germany’s capital is the fourth city with the second most museums in Europe, with 140 museums – the Topographical Museum and the GDR Museum are just two must-visits if you want to learn more about Berlin’s history. The open-air East Side Gallery is perhaps the best-known of the city’s 104 galleries.

The fifth top cultural holiday destination is Milan, Italy. With four opera houses, it is the second most visited in Europe. A city with a passion for art and fashion also has the second most libraries, with 54.

Budapest

The Hungarian capital came in 15th place, with 165 places to visit and 40 theatres. Museum-lovers will certainly want to visit Budapest’s new museums: the Ethnographic Museum and the House of Hungarian Music in Városliget are a special experience, but Madame Tussauds, which opened a month ago, is also interesting with its international and Hungarian historical figures.

TOP 15

Ranking	City	Country	Museums	Libraries	Art Galleries	Theatres	Landmarks	Opera Houses	Total Score*
1	London	UK	19	27	258	214	469	3	4.30
2	Paris	France	85	50	204	152	1000	4	4.21
3	Rome	Italy	38	81	88	72	466	3	2.81
4	Berlin	Germany	140	3	104	84	262	3	2.78
5	Milan	Italy	32	54	119	53	49	4	2.63
6	Prague	Czech Republic	36	12	252	110	208	3	2.52
7	Vienna	Austria	93	2	48	52	145	6	2.04
8	Madrid	Spain	52	12	55	102	336	2	1.7
9	Istanbul	Türkiye	9	8	242	100	133	0	1.67
10	Barcelona	Spain	39	28	81	44	247	2	1.61
11	Amsterdam	Netherlands	58	7	120	54	281	1	1.52
12	Venice	Italy	0	33	135	17	194	2	1.51
13	Munich	Germany	55	4	24	25	118	4	1.29
14	Budapest	Hungary	42	2	52	40	165	3	1.26
15	Florence	Italy	0	23	56	17	136	3	1.18

June 28, 2023

How to save on travel: travel cheap from Hungary to France now!

A new direct bus service from Budapest to Marseille is launched soon. The new service will also stop in Slovakia, Austria and Switzerland.

New bus service to France

Flixbus is launching a new direct bus service between Budapest and Marseille, France. Thanks to the new service, passengers will be able to travel easily and comfortably, without having to change buses.

The Budapest-bound service also stops in Slovakia, Austria and Switzerland. So you can visit Bratislava, Vienna, Zurich or even Lyon, in addition to Marseille from Hungary, to discover the cultural and historical attractions of these cities, says Pénzcentrum.

Buses run in both directions every day of the week, which is also a great help when planning your holiday. This means you can even spend a night or two in other cities.

Prices start from HUF 34,000 (EUR 92) one way.

June 22, 2023

Hungary purchases missiles from France

Hungary has initialled an agreement to buy French Mistral air defence missiles, Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said on Tuesday.

The declaration of intent was signed alongside Belgium, Estonia, Cyprus, France at a European defence show in Paris addressed by President Emmanuel Macron, Szalay-Bobrovniczky said in a video uploaded to his Facebook page.

He noted that Macron highlighted the importance of air defence and the European defence industry.

“Hungary is doing well in this respect; we’re developing our defence industry. Peace requires strength, we’re working on this,” he said.

LMP wants Tik Tok to be removed from state, local government devices

Opposition LMP on Tuesday announced that it is initiating an amendment to the law on IT security aimed at preventing the use of Tik Tok on state and local government devices in a bid to protect state administration and the country’s cyber security.

“Right now we’re living in an era of surveillance capitalism, with technology giants monitoring our every move on the Internet and keeping track of our location,” Mate Kanasz-Nagy, the party’s deputy group leader, told a press conference.

He said that while this issue was not limited to Tik Tok, the Chinese company carried greater risk to national security than other platforms, adding that personal data could easily end up in China, and the company was closely tied to the Chinese state leadership.

The UK, Belgium, France and Canada are among countries to have banned the use of the platform on state devices, the LMP politician said. Also European Commission employees are prevented from using Tik Tok on work devices, he added.

In a previous LMP proposal package on child protection, the party recommended restricting the use of the platform for those under the age of 18, he noted.

Featured image: illustration (Mistral air defence missile)

June 20, 2023

Increased military vehicle traffic expected in Hungary: this is where

Increased military vehicle traffic is expected in Hungary, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defence.

Military vehicle traffic

In the statement, the Ministry reminds the public that the Headquarters Multinational Division Centre (HQ MND-C) and its supporting element in Székesfehérvár will conduct an international exercise “Strong Bastion 23”. It is expected to increase military vehicle traffic on the

Székesfehérvár, Alba Regia barracks — Letenye border crossing route between 19-30 June 2023.

The convoys consist of military container trucks and loaders, military trucks and SUVs, armoured fighting vehicles, light infantry vehicles and military buses, among others, with military police escort, Portfolio reports.

IMPORTANT!

The Hungarian Defence Forces is asking drivers to approach military vehicles with due caution and in compliance with traffic rules, as their size and speed, as well as the length and progress of convoys, differ from the usual way of everyday road traffic.

Civilian vehicles are not allowed to enter the closed convoy. Thus, escort vehicles will be used to ensure the passage of vehicles. Drivers are asked to drive in the vicinity of military convoys taking into account current road, weather and visibility conditions.

Featured image: illustration

June 20, 2023

Developing Hungary’s military up to the requirements of the 21st century, says minister

Developing Hungary’s military up to the requirements of the 21st century and ensuring the country’s security requires “the most modern equipment”, Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said at the international 54th Le Bourget air show in Paris on Monday.

The defence ministry quoted Szalay-Bobrovniczky as saying that the government “is constantly looking for new solutions and the best military technology such as the Airbus H225M multi-purpose helicopter to ensure the security of Hungary and the Hungarian people.”

Szalay-Bobrovniczky attended the show at the invitation of Sebastien Lecornu, his French counterpart.

As we wrote a week ago, Hungary’s defence ministry moving to ‘historical’ location, details HERE.

June 20, 2023

Interview with Director of ESSCA Budapest dr. Zsuzsa Deli-Gray

We conducted an exclusive interview with Dr. Zsuzsa Deli-Gray, Director of ESSCA Budapest. The French university’s campus in Hungary is a success story, but a lot of work has gone into it over the past 30 years. ESSCA’s presence in Hungary is raising the standard of higher education.

Daily News Hungary (DNH): First of all, please tell us a bit about yourself. I heard that you have already spent more than 20 years at ESSCA.

Dr. Zsuzsa Deli-Gray: Indeed, this year, it has been exactly 24 years since the then-Head of the Budapest Campus of ESSCA contacted me and invited me to teach a course on international marketing to students of ESSCA in English. At that time, I was working on my doctoral thesis as well as teaching several subjects in Hungarian and in English at the university where I was employed as an assistant professor.

Every year, more and more courses were entrusted to me at ESSCA and after a few years, I was asked if I was interested in working full time at ESSCA. Since I liked the School’s value system, the applied methodologies, the colleagues and the students, I accepted the offer with great pleasure. I started to work at the School as programme director and I have been working in this position for seven years. In 2013, the school entrusted me with the entire management of the Budapest Campus therefore I have been participating in the life of the school as the director of the Campus for ten years.

DNH: For those who are not familiar with ESSCA, how would you describe the university with your own words?

Dr. Zsuzsa Deli-Gray: The ESSCA School of Management has been founded in 1909 in Angers. It has ten Campuses, 6 in France, 1 in Hungary, 1 in China, 1 in Spain and 1 in Luxembourg. The excellence of the School as well as its academic programmes have been acknowledged by several international accreditation bodies. The ESSCA is amongst the very few schools who obtained the triple crown, such as the EQUIS, the AMBA and the AACSB accreditations. ESSCA has been a member of the Conférence des Grandes Écoles since 1977 and has also been annually ranked in the list of the Financial Times.

DNH: The Budapest campus was founded in 1993. What milestones have you achieved during the 30 years of operation? What level of education do you currently provide?

Dr. Zsuzsa Deli-Gray: We are celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of the Budapest Campus this year. We opened the Campus with forty-one students in 1993 and today, we welcome approximately 800 students every year. These statistics show that there is an increasing number of academic programmes proposed at our Campus and that there is a growing interest in studying at our School at all levels.

In 2020, we launched a new bachelor level programme (Bachelor in International Management) with a “International Business Developer” specialisation and in 2022, a new master level programme (Master in Management) with a “Purchasing and Supply Chain Management” specialisation. We have students enrolled in these programmes from all over the world and they are all looking forward to obtaining the ESSCA degree which is highly valued worldwide. During their studies, all students have to complete several internships and at least one semester abroad.

DNH: How does ESSCA stand out from other competing universities in Hungary? Why should a prospective student choose ESSCA?

Dr. Zsuzsa Deli-Gray: I am very much convinced that ESSCA proposes to all students who are interested in Economics, Management, Finance, Marketing or HR the best possible learning conditions and a precious and valuable degree.

ESSCA is the only school in Hungary which possesses the accreditation of the three most prestigious accreditation bodies, that I have already mentioned. These accreditations guarantee the quality of the studies and the degree of ESSCA.

The School emphasises the professional combination of comprehensive academic knowledge that the professors share with the students and up-to-date practical activities and projects. All professors of ESSCA are trained by our “Advanced Pedagogical Institute” on how to use innovative, creative methods in their teaching practices. The classes are held in classrooms which are equipped by the highest technological equipment.

All of our students have adult tutors throughout their studies that help in guiding them on their professional path as well as their learning methods. We know all of our students by name, by interest and challenging areas and thus they are able to feel as if they were part of a large family.

During these last years, ESSCA reorganised its activities along the principles of sustainable development and it proposes many CSR activities to its students and colleagues. Humanistic values are in the centre of operations at ESSCA.

There are many other areas that we could mention but I think that you see that the ESSCA Campuses are special places where both students and professors as well as the team members like to be at.

DNH: How many students are currently enrolled at the institution? What is the ratio of Hungarian undergraduates to foreigners? Where do most international students come from?

Dr. Zsuzsa Deli-Gray: The Budapest Campus welcomes approximately 800 students per year who come from all over the world. There are representatives of approximately thirty-five different countries in the study groups ever year. The percentage of the Hungarian undergraduates increases year by year.

DNH: What specific criteria do you use when hiring new faculty members?

Dr. Zsuzsa Deli-Gray: When recruiting a new faculty member, we have a look at the candidates’ teaching and research experiences, methods and results as well as their vision for their professional career. We have approximately two hundred candidates for each position and we try to select the best ones who will prepare our students for their professional future. We look for new faculty members who have a PhD degree, who are involved in research projects which contribute to the development of their discipline and whose results can be incorporated into the teaching materials, who are teaching in an innovative way, who are able to professionally tutor students, whose personality fits into the value system of ESSCA and who have international experiences.

DNH: Your international admission procedure for the bachelor programme is quite unique because it is not based solely on admission points. Can you describe your method?

Dr. Zsuzsa Deli-Gray: During the international admission procedure, we try to find out whether ESSCA and the programme the students apply for is the right choice for them. We also aim to assess whether or not a candidate would be able to learn and apply the competences we teach during the programme.

Candidates can apply by filling out an online questionnaire about their reasons for applying and plans for the future. After the application form is submitted, the candidate is invited for an interview where his/her debating, management, listening, planning and communication skills are evaluated. We use creative ways of finding out more about the candidates in order to make the process relaxed and inspiring. Thus, the secondary school results are important for us; however, when making our decision about the applications, we also take into consideration the students’ preparedness for a management school as well as their personality.

DNH: Let’s also briefly talk about tuition fees and possible scholarships and grants.

Dr. Zsuzsa Deli-Gray: ESSCA is well-known for its aim to help all talented young students who wish to study at our School. Thus, after identifying the tuition fees for the forthcoming year, ESSCA is defining what grants it offers for the students based on the annual revenue of their parents. The school also offers excellence scholarships for those whose academic results were very good, and we also offer early bird reductions if candidates apply before the end of January.

DNH: Attracting foreign students to Budapest also boosts the image of Hungary. Based on previous feedback, what is the foreign students’ perception of the country?

Dr. Zsuzsa Deli-Gray: Well, it depends on where the candidates come from. Those who come from Europe know more or less what they should expect from a European capital. Those candidates who come from different continents recall different feelings they had when they opted for Budapest. They all say that based on what they heard about Budapest, they were convinced that it was an exotic place where people are ready for new challenges and aren’t afraid to have open discussions.

After their arrival, they realise very quickly how beautiful Budapest is, how friendly people are, how many options they have if they wish to visit a theatre or museum, to go out or to visit the neighbouring countries. They appreciate the feeling of safety as well as the cleanliness of the roads. On top of this, they meet interesting and nice people (classmates and teachers) at our Campus which makes the experience much more pleasant.

DNH: We’re convinced that our readers would also be interested in what you think about the skills a good leader in education should have.

Dr. Zsuzsa Deli-Gray: It is important that a leader has in-depth and well-established management skills. By this, I am not only referring to management and organisational skills but to strategic, financial, psychological, sociological, communication and several other skills as well. Creativity and innovativeness are also essential as they allow you to stay ahead of your competition and have unique, well-distinguishable results.

Competence in risk assessment is similarly important, enabling a leader to realistically and rationally analyse individual situations, opportunities or even danger zones and develop efficient and effective solutions. Proficiency in international settings and the ability to understand and integrate various viewpoints are also indispensable competences in management.

I would also emphasise the importance of perseverance, and that a leader should be able to stand up for and loyally represent the interests of the institution he/she works for. Precision and the ability to identify synergy can greatly support the planning, organisation and control processes. I could list several other things as well but without the aforementioned skills, it is difficult to achieve success and produce results in any industry.

Also we made an interview with Anthony Radev, President of Corvinus about model-changing, foreign students and new campus, read answers HERE.

June 13, 2023

Hungarian FM: Europe needs strategic autonomy, advocacy

Europe needs strategic autonomy, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in Paris on Wednesday, arguing that the continent would lose out if it kept following other global political players instead of enforcing its own interests.

Szijjártó held talks with the foreign affairs and defence committee of France’s Senate, discussing primarily the war in Ukraine and its consequences, according to a ministry statement.

The war has significantly weakened Europe both politically and economically, the minister said.

“It has weakened the continent politically because the past one year, three months and two weeks has not been enough for us to move closer to peace; we haven’t been able to stop this war,” he said.

“And secondly, we’ve become weaker economically because owing to the differences between the European and American responses to the war, European businesses find themselves at a huge competitive disadvantage compared with American businesses,” he added.

Szijjártó said that whereas the US Inflation Reduction Act “shamelessly and completely openly supports American companies against European ones”, European sanctions were hurting Europe’s economy more than Russia’s.

This puts European businesses at a huge competitive disadvantage, and all of the negative effects are felt in the vicinity of the war first, he said.

“Moreover, we represent a nation whose members are dying in the war, so I told the members of the French Senate’s foreign affairs and defence committee that Hungary has an absolute interest in peace,” Szijjártó said.

“We, of course, condemn the war,” he said. “The question is not what we think of the war or its outbreak, but rather how it will end.”

“There is no resolution to this war on the battlefield, only casualties,” Szijjártó said. Every single new delivery of weapons brings more casualties, so Europe should instead concentrate on creating peace, he added.

“Of course, this approach of ours is out of line with that of the European mainstream,” Szijjártó said, adding that it also differed from France’s approach in several ways.

But what is certain is that France and Hungary agree that Europe is in need of some sort of strategic autonomy and the ability to make its own decisions and enforce its own interests, he said. Because if it constantly follows other world political players, it will lose out, he added.

June 8, 2023

France to take over Germany’s role in Paks II control system supply

France’s Framatome is set to take over the role of Germany’s Siemens Energy in the supply of the operational control system for the new blocks of Hungary’s Paks nuclear power plant, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in Paris on Wednesday.

The expansion of nuclear energy production is the best way to guarantee Hungary’s long-term energy security and sustain the achievements of the scheme capping household energy prices, Szijjártó said after talks with the CEO of France’s EDF electric utility company, according to a ministry statement.

Szijjártó said the European Commission’s recent approval of the modifications to the contracts of the Paks plant’s upgrade could now accelerate the expansion, adding that the Hungarian government now expected a greater French presence in the project.

Hungary had intended for the control system to be supplied by a German-French consortium, but the German government is not allowing the German company to participate, the minister said. Therefore, their role will most likely be taken over by the French, he added.

The minister noted that US engineering giant GE, which has been contracted to manufacture and supply the turbines for the new blocks, has been acquired by a French company.

“And this means that French value added, French participation and French contributions to Hungary’s nuclear industry will increase significantly,” he said.

Szijjártó said this was in line with Hungary’s interests, arguing that Budapest and Paris were in agreement on the strategic importance of protecting nuclear energy.

“Certain European political players and Brussels bureaucrats are trying to push nuclear energy out of the European energy market,” the minister said. But, he added, France had organised a coalition of 12 European countries that firmly support the use of nuclear energy.

“We don’t accept negative discrimination against nuclear energy,” he said. “Nuclear energy is indeed a clean, cheap and safe way of producing electricity.”

Szijjártó on Wednesday morning also held talks with the director general of the European Space Agency as well as leaders of Thales Alenia Space and Servier. Hungary is intensifying its cooperation with the ESA after having shortlisted the final four candidates to become the country’s next astronaut to participate in a mission on the International Space Station, he said, adding that the contract on the mission will be signed with US-based Axiom Space in September.

June 7, 2023

Daniil Medvedev’s first-round French Open defeat proves he still has work to do on clay

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It’s hard to look at Daniil Medvedev’s first-round French Open exit as anything other than a major disappointment. Arriving at Roland Garros as the number two seed, much was expected of the Russian, especially as it appeared as though he had banished his inability to produce his best on clay.

He reached the quarter-finals of the French Open in 2021 and the fourth round last year, before a hard-earned triumph at the Italian Open earlier this spring earned Medvedev his first clay court title. Finally, it seemed as though he was comfortable on the surface, and it’s no wonder he was a strong favourite in the men French Open betting odds for this year’s tournament.

But it all came crashing down before it had even begun. A disappointing performance against Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild led to a rather embarrassing first-round defeat, and Medvedev was booking his flights home from a tournament he was expected to go far in.

After the match, Medvedev was scathing about his performance, and not for the first time, made vocal his distaste for the clay surface.

“Because of the wind, dry court, I had a mouthful of clay since probably the third game of the match, and I don’t like it,” he said. “I don’t know if people like to eat clay, to have clay in their bags, in their shoes, the socks, white socks, you can throw them to garbage after clay season.”

“Maybe some people like it. I don’t. I am happy to have it finished. I’m going to have to have a good time off. Have to find positives.”

It’s clear that Medvedev struggles with the unique challenges presented by clay-court tennis, and that it has become something of a distraction for him. It seems as though once a match starts to go against him, as it did versus Seyboth Wild, he laments the playing surface instead of finding a way to rediscover his best form and turn the match around.

There’s no denying that Medvedev is one of the best players in the world, and a player capable of winning multiple Grand Slam titles. After all, he claimed his maiden major crown at the 2021 US Open, so has proven he has what it takes to win the biggest titles.

However, Medvedev often appears to let frustration get the better of him, and while some players use their frustration in a positive manner and channel that energy into performing better, Medvedev seems to let his anger get the better of him at times.

The Russian may be glad that the clay season is over, but he’ll need to find a way to perform more consistently on the surface, and avoid letting it frustrate him. With Rafael Nadal’s career seemingly winding down, the opportunity will arise for more players to win the French Open after the Spaniard’s era of dominance comes to an end. Medvedev can’t afford to let these opportunities pass him by each year.

The 27-year-old is clearly hurting after this early exit from one of the biggest tournaments of the year, and time will tell if it affects him moving forward.

June 7, 2023

Shame: Hungary has the strongest antisemitism in Europe

Bad news came out about Poland and Hungary’s antisemite sentiments. According to a recent survey of ten European countries, more than a third of the population in Hungary and Poland hold explicitly anti-Jewish views.

According to a survey by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) in ten European countries, a significant percentage of the population agrees with certain anti-Semitic views and stereotypes, The Jerusalem Post reports. The ADL poll ran from November last year to January this year. It covered Belgium, the UK, France, the Netherlands, Poland, Hungary, Germany, Russia, Spain and Ukraine, rtl.hu writes.

The questions that helped determine the populations’ antisemitism

The questions covered eleven commonly held anti-Jewish views, such as the following:

Jews have too much power in business.
Jews are the cause of most wars in the world.
Jews are more loyal to Israel than to their homeland.

Respondents were asked to indicate their level of agreement with statements such as the above. If someone agreed to some extent with at least six of the 11 statements, they were classified as holding antisemitic views.

According to the survey, 37 percent of the population in Hungary hold anti-Semitic views.

What about the rest of the countries examined?

This figure is 35 percent in Poland, 29 percent in Ukraine, 26 percent in Russia and Spain. It is 24 percent in Belgium, 17 percent in France, 12 percent in Germany and 10 percent in the UK. According to the ADL, the Netherlands has the lowest level of antisemitism at just 8 percent.

The survey data show that while the proportion of people who hold antisemitic views is relatively high in Poland and Ukraine, around one third, the situation has improved since the last survey in 2019. Antisemitism fell from 48 to 35 percent in Poland and from 46 to 29 percent in Ukraine. In Hungary, antisemitism has fallen by a smaller amount, from 42 to 37 percent. Thus, the five-percent drop has seen Hungary jump to the top.

June 2, 2023

PHOTOS: Hungarian animation film wins in Cannes

Flóra Anna Buda’s animation film, “27”, has won the Short Film Palme d’Or at the 76th International Film Festival at Cannes.

Buda was presented the prize by Hungarian director Ildikó Enyedi, the chairperson of the jury for short films. 27, a French-Hungarian coproduction, was chosen from a short list of 11 films, picked from 4,288 contestants. The film will be screened in Hungary at the Friss Hús short film festival between June 1-7 in Budapest, and then will contest at one of the most prestigious short film festivals at Annecy, France.

May 28, 2023

French proverbs and sayings with online french tutors from italki

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French proverbs and sayings are an integral part of the rich cultural heritage of France. They provide insights into the values, traditions, and wisdom of the French people. Whether you’re a language enthusiast, a student of French, or someone planning to visit or work in a French-speaking country, learning these proverbs and sayings can greatly enhance your understanding of the language and culture. With the advent of online tutoring platforms like italki, mastering French proverbs and sayings has become more accessible than ever before. In this article, we explore the significance of French proverbs and sayings and how French tutors online from italki can help you delve into this fascinating linguistic and cultural realm.

Understanding the Significance of French Proverbs and Sayings:

French proverbs and sayings have been passed down through generations, serving as concise expressions of common sense, life lessons, and cultural observations. They encapsulate the collective wisdom and experiences of the French people, offering valuable insights into their mindset and worldview. By familiarizing yourself with French proverbs and sayings, you gain a deeper understanding of the language and culture, allowing you to communicate more effectively and connect with native speakers on a deeper level.

The Benefits of Learning French Proverbs and Sayings:

Enhancing Language Skills: Proverbs and sayings often contain idiomatic expressions, figurative language, and colloquialisms, which are essential elements of mastering a language. Learning these expressions expands your vocabulary, improves your comprehension skills, and helps you sound more natural and fluent in French.

Cultural Insight: French proverbs and sayings reflect the values, history, and traditions of the French people. Exploring them enables you to gain valuable cultural insights, fostering cross-cultural understanding and appreciation.

Conversation and Fluency: Incorporating proverbs and sayings in your conversations demonstrates a deeper understanding of the language. It adds flair to your speech, making you more engaging and memorable in French conversations.

Online French Tutors on italki:

Convenient and Flexible Learning: italki provides a platform where you can find experienced, native French tutors who offer personalized lessons tailored to your specific needs and goals. Online lessons give you the flexibility to schedule sessions at your convenience, fitting into even the busiest of schedules.

Cultural Immersion: Learning French proverbs and sayings is not merely about memorization. Online tutors from italki bring the cultural context to life, immersing you in the French language and helping you understand the historical and social background behind each proverb or saying.

Personalized Guidance: italki tutors offer one-on-one instruction, allowing them to focus on your strengths and weaknesses. They provide targeted guidance, helping you navigate the intricacies of French proverbs and sayings and guiding you toward proficiency.

It is better to start now to master the language quickly. It will give you lots of benefits and you can simply do any business and visit to interact with local people. It will help you to understand their culture and can clearly talk to them about anything that you want to know. You have to get the classes from the best teachers.

May 26, 2023

Isolated Hungary? President Novák in cozy chats with Meloni, Macron, other EU leaders – PHOTOS

Hungarian President Katalin Novák said in Reykjavik on Wednesday that as a Christian conservative politician she considered it the most important task to seek out the possibility of bringing about a fair peace to end the war in Ukraine.

Addressing a meeting of the Council of Europe, Novák said if all conditions of a just peace were met that would clear the path not only for a ceasefire but reconciliation under an enduring peace. The heads of state and government of the Council of Europe have an extraordinary responsibility in advancing and ensuring peace for the citizens of their countries, she said and welcomed that an increasing number of leaders supported a fair and just peace which she said was “the universal desire of all our citizens”. The Council of Europe is key in promoting and protecting human rights, and has done much for democracy and fundamental freedom rights, she said.

President Novák: “our peaceful lifestyle is under attack”

“This is the right time and place to send a firm message, that of the right to peace,” she said. At the same time, it is a priority that the fight for freedom does not curb the rights of minorities, she said. “Respect for minorities’ rights is one of the foundations of European cooperation, and cannot be set aside,” she said. The summit should have been an opportunity to celebrate, she said: “Our economies have never been this advanced, we have left the coronavirus pandemic behind, we learnt to bolster common values and to handle cultural, historic and linguistic differences…”. At the same time, Europe is facing grave challenges: “there is a war in continental Europe and our peaceful lifestyle is under attack,” she said.

Early morning training with Polish President Duda. Hungarian-Polish friendship unchanged?

With the Ukrainian PM:

“Russia’s mad decision to attack Ukraine, a neighbour of Hungary, has upended our world,” she said. Aggression and attack on a sovereign state is unacceptable, she said. War crimes must be investigated and the perpetrators held to account, she added. On the sidelines of the summit, Novák had talks with Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, French President Emmanuel Macron, Moldavian President Maia Sandu, as well as Ukrainian PM Denys Smyhal.

With Giorgia Meloni:

And President Macron:

May 18, 2023

Violent passenger causes Turkish plane to interrupt its flight in Budapest

A Turkish Pegasus Airlines Istanbul (SAW) – Paris (CDG) flight was interrupted in Budapest due to an altercation between passengers on board. The violent passenger was removed from the aircraft.

The pilots of the Airbus A321neo aircraft on flight PC 1133 decided to make a stopover in the Balatonfenyves area, then proceeded towards Győr and later turned towards Budapest, airportal.hu reports.

According to information provided to airportal.hu by Budapest Airport, the flight was interrupted due to a confrontation between passengers.

At 12:01 PM local time, the aircraft landed safely at Liszt Ferenc International Airport and rolled to its designated parking position. The Airport Police Department removed the passenger from the plane and interrogated him. The injured did not seek medical attention, the airport operator added in a statement.

The plane then continued its journey to Paris after the police action. The incident has not disrupted air traffic and the airport is operating smoothly.

May 16, 2023