Brexit

Thousands of Hungarians keep registering to stay in the UK

London

Another 2,500 Hungarians registered to be able to keep working in the United Kingdom after Brexit, according to data from the British Ministry of the Interior.

Those concerned with the matter still have a year, until July 2021, to complete their registration, so the current number of 104,000 is likely to rise during that time, reported Turizmus Online. In June 2,540 Hungarians registered in order to continue working freely in the United Kingdom, which is the highest monthly figure since March, although the pandemic has significantly slowed down the registration.

A total of 104,410 Hungarians have revealed to the British authorities so far that they would like to remain in the UK after it leaves the European Union. Those who have been in the UK since before January this year do not have to do anything only indicate their wish to stay. So they will receive a residence permit automatically.

According to the Ministry of the Interior, 94,120 Hungarians would like to stay in England, 6,040 in Scotland, 1,950 in Wales and 1,830 in Northern Ireland after Brexit. 92,670 of these are aged between 18 and 65, almost 11,000 are under 18, and just 850 are over 65 years old. This supports the belief that the majority of Hungarian emigrants are young, working-age people who try their luck abroad.

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic could be twofold: 

  • one one hand, unemployment is expected to rise everywhere, and non-local workers may be at a bigger risk, because the protection of the domestic workforce may be prioritised in many countries. This may result in many people returning to their home country after losing their jobs.
  • On the other hand, with the increasing unemployment rates at home, an increased amount of people may “try their luck abroad.”

For the time being, the first could perhaps be stronger, meaning more could return than emigrate, which Brexit itself could have started. Many Hungarians working in Western Europe in the most affected sectors, such as tourism, hospitality, services, may also return home, as each country is expected to protect the jobs of their own citizens.

A lot of things depend on how long the pandemic will last, if there will be a second wave, and how fast the economy recovers and employment returns to the previous rates.

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Read alsoUnemployment rates may improve in Hungary soon

London
Read alsoMore than 100,000 Hungarians live in the United Kingdom

EU freedom of movement ends under UK’s new immigration rules

Brexit, passport, borders

The biggest change for a generation in Britain’s immigration system will see the end of freedom of movement for millions of European Union nationals, British Home Secretary Priti Patel announced Monday.

From Jan. 1, 2021, when the new rules come into effect, residents of the EU’s 27 member states will be treated equally to arrivals from the rest of the world. But EU citizens who started living in Britain by Dec. 31, 2020 will still be able to apply to settle in Britain under the EU settlement scheme until 30 June 2021. More than 3.7 million EU citizens have so far made applications to settle in Britain.

Patel unveiled a 130-page document outlining new immigration rules following the country’s departure from the EU after almost 50 years of membership. It will be centered around a points system to determine who will be allowed into Britain, and who will be refused access.

A “NEW FAIRER” SYSTEM

In its immigration document, the Home Office said the new points-based system will be a fair system, treating people from every part of the world equally.

“The British people voted to take back control of our borders and introduce a new points-based immigration system. Now we have left the EU, we are free to unleash this country’s full potential and implement the changes we need to restore trust in the immigration system and deliver a new fairer, firmer, skills-led system from 1 January 2021,”

Patel said.

People applying to work in Britain will also need a level of English language to support integration, ensuring migrants can live and be part of the wider community in Britain.

In a written statement to the House of Commons, Patel said: “At a time where an increased number of people across the UK are looking for work, the new points-based system will encourage employers to invest in the domestic UK workforce, rather than simply relying on labor from abroad.”

“We are also making necessary changes, so it is simpler for employers to attract the best and brightest from around the world to come to the UK to complement the skills we already have.”

A new graduate route will allow international students to stay in Britain once they have completed their studies for two years for students gaining a masters’ degree, and three years for students who have completed a PhD degree.

A global talent scheme will also allow scientists and researchers to head to Britain without a job offer.

CARE WORKERS EXCLUDED

Controversially, the new rules will exclude thousands of…

Germany takes over EU presidency from Croatia in “difficult time” marked by pandemic

Germany takes over EU presidency in difficult time marked by pandemic

Germany took over the presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) from Croatia for the next six months in a “difficult time” determined by COVID-19, said German Chancellor Angela Merkel in a speech to the Bundestag (parliament) in Berlin on Wednesday.

“Of course, our presidency will be marked by the coronavirus pandemic, the efforts to contain it and to deal with its consequences,” said Merkel, stressing that the European Council had agreed that “special solutions are needed.”

The COVID-19 pandemic “affects us all,” said Merkel when presenting the program for Germany’s EU presidency in June.

Merkel warned that the positions of the member states of the EU were still “widely divergent.” Besides the COVID-19 crisis, the EU Council is looking at a number of serious challenges including Brexit, immigration as well as climate protection.

In her speech, Merkel stressed that there were other issues besides the coronavirus crisis.

“Over the next six months, we not only want to press ahead with crisis management, but also work intensively on how we can shape the key issues of climate protection, digital sovereignty and Europe’s role in the world in the future.”

Already in May, the European Commission has proposed a 750-billion-euro (844 billion U.S. dollars) aid package for Europe’s economic recovery after the coronavirus crisis. In this “decisive moment,” investments must be made “in a way that will benefit the next generation tomorrow,” said President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

Merkel said that economic aid had to secure young people’s opportunities and promised to campaign for every young person to have the opportunity to find work.

“It is particularly important to me that the economic recovery benefits everyone and that we not only secure employment and business, but also and especially strengthen social cohesion in Europe.”

The Federation of German Industries (BDI) warned on Wednesday that demands by many member states were so high that Germany could “hardly do them justice.” The next six months could become a “negotiation and voting nightmare in the face of unrealistic expectations,” said BDI President Dieter Kempf.

With regard to the future relationships between the EU and the United Kingdom (UK), Merkel noted that progress in the negotiations was “very limited, to put it mildly.”

A recent survey conducted jointly by BDI and Deloitte showed that almost one in three German companies expected the UK to leave the EU without a negotiated deal.

“We have agreed with Great Britain to speed up the negotiations now in order to reach an agreement in autumn,” Merkel said.

She stressed to “continue to fight for a good solution” but advised to take precautions in the EU and also in Germany in case an agreement was not reached.

With the Brexit deadline getting closer and the international cry for financial aid getting louder as Europe’s economies struggle with the effects of COVID-19, Merkel emphasized that “only with the support of the national parliaments of all member states will we be able to meet this major challenges.”

More than 100,000 Hungarians live in the United Kingdom

London

In May, an additional 2,300 Hungarians registered at British offices that they would like to stay in the United Kingdom after Brexit. With this number, the official registration number has reached 100,000. Registration is running for one more year, and the numbers might change in the future, experts reported.

Portfólió reported that in April, 2,100, while one month later, 2,300 registrations arrived in British offices from Hungarians intending to stay in the UK after Brexit. The British Home Office reported that this number might be higher than in recent months but does not reach the highest record on average, which could be because, due to the coronavirus epidemic, many people changed their minds. 

Currently, the Home Office cannot determine the reason behind the decreasing numbers. It could be the fact that everyday life and economy became uncertain in the UK because of the epidemic, many people lost their jobs, and many doubt being able to afford living in the UK.

The most registrations (17,900) arrived in October, while in September this number was also above 10,000. When the epidemic broke out, registrations fell back to 2,000/month. After the British Government decides to open the country and ease the coronavirus restrictions, the Home Office estimates that these numbers could increase again, but further data will only arrive in the next months. 

Almost 100 thousand Hungarians would like to remain in the UK after Brexit

In February, 5,500 Hungarians asked for a permanent residency permit, so the total number of Hungarians asking for the document rose to 94 thousand. This might be fewer than half of the Hungarians living in the UK. All EU citizens have time until July 2021 to decide whether they would like to remain in the United Kingdom or not.

READ MORE HERE

UK, EU need to conclude negotiation “in good time”

brexit negotiation

Britain’s chief Brexit negotiator David Frost said Friday that Britain remains “committed to a successful outcome” in talks with Brussels after little progress was made in the fourth round of crucial talks.

“Progress remains limited but our talks have been positive in tone. Negotiations will continue and we remain committed to a successful outcome,” said Frost in London after the talks.

“We are close to reaching the limits of what we can achieve through the format of remote formal Rounds. If we are to make progress, it is clear that we must intensify and accelerate our work,” he said.

london street people
Read alsoEU net migration to UK falls after 2016 Brexit vote

“We need to conclude this negotiation in good time to enable people and businesses to have certainty about the trading terms that will follow the end of the transition period at the end of this year, and, if necessary, to allow ratification of any agreements reached,” he added.

“Any such deal must of course accommodate the reality of the UK’s well-established position on the so-called ‘level playing field’, on fisheries, and the other difficult issues,” he added.

The latest talks, like previous rounds of negotiations over the past few months, were conducted virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Read alsoAlmost 100 thousand Hungarians would like to remain in the UK after Brexit

The focus will now switch to a crucial meeting reportedly to take place later this month between British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

Johnson has continually insisted he will not extend the transition period beyond Dec. 31, with Britain and the European Union (EU) facing the prospect of trade being conducted under World Trade Organization (WTO) rules if there is no agreement.

For his part, Michel Barnier, EU’s head of Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom, said Friday in Brussels that there had been no significant progress in the latest talks started Tuesday, noting that the EU has always been open to the possibility of an extension to the transition period.

“Our doors remain open,” he said.

Britain ended its membership of the bloc on Jan. 31 and has until the end of the year to agree a permanent trade deal with the EU.

Jobbik MEP Gyöngyösi: On institutional reforms for credibility and efficiency

EU flag

In past decades, substantial amount of pressure started to mount on the European political establishment to implement essential institutional reforms.

In a recent post Hungarian MEP Márton Gyöngyösi explains how over a decade lapsed since the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, the last attempt to adjust the mechanisms of the European institutions to increase its credibility, responsiveness and efficiency in the eyes of the European citizens. Since then a number of crises swept through our continent, leaving as much devastation behind as food for thought about the accuracy of the chosen direction.

Response by the EU to the financial crisis, migration, Brexit, challenges posed by climate change and the COVID-19 outbreak have left a lot to be desired.

Once again, amidst an emergency posed by the global pandemic and by the rise of populist political forces taking an advantage and promising a simple and quick fix to all of Europe’s problems, the EU has to deal in urgency with the overdue issue of institutional reform. Guiding principles in this process should be:

  • Eliminating the perception of costly over-bureaucratization of institutions, as well as democratic deficit to regain credibility;
  • Dissolving deadlock in European institutions to enhance efficiency in legislating, decision-making and executing powers;
  • Strengthening European identity by defending common values and forging a common European narrative.

According to Gyöngyösi, when it comes to ranking highly annoying and senselessly profligate practices of the EU, the „wandering circus” of the European Parliament relocating every month between Strasbourg and Brussels scores relatively high.  

Although the historical reason for this arrangement in the immediate aftermath of WW2 is understood, it is high time for France to let go of this symbolic, but rather costly exercise.

Similarly, the historic reasons for the need of careful balancing in assigning portfolios of the Commission are appreciated, but the time has come to reform the composition of the EU’s executive and place efficiency ahead of everything else. Instead of every Member State being granted a seat in the College, sometimes with arbitrary or symbolic scope, backed by an army of over 32.000 bureaucrats, a mission-focused Commission with about half the size should take over. In order to ensure balance between Member States rotation among Commissioners should be introduced.  

Both of the above measures would lead to reducing bureaucracy, costs and increasing efficiency of our institutions.

The EU has also damaged its already battered reputation for having a democratic deficit when the „Spitzenkandidat” system for selecting the president of the Commission was suddenly ditched just to give way to the best European traditions of behind the door deals to elect Merkel’s favourite Ursula von der Leyen. 

If ever the EU wants to regain credibility, it should opt for a transparent and more democratic way of selecting the candidate for the most prestigious position in the EU.

Based on Gyöngyösi’s post, if the EU wishes to become a geopolitical player in a globalized but multipolar world, as envisaged by the current leaders of the EU, it will have to amend its decision-making and voting procedures in the Council. Unanimity in areas such as common foreign and security policy do not help the EU in becoming a unified strategic player politically, while unanimity in taxation, financial and social security matters hinder the economic integration of the EU, enhancing its global competitiveness. The elimination of the veto in certain areas should thus be contemplated.  

Equally, unity among the Member States can only be preserved if fundamental values of the community, adherence to democracy and rule of law are respected by all.

Values of democracy and freedom are the No. 1 trademarks of Europe, the neglect for which should have serious consequences: sanctions and ultimately a suspension of membership.

Some of the above require the amendment of the fundamental treaties of the EU, which due to the ratification process might seem mission impossible in ordinary times. However, extraordinary times require bold measures especially in times when the future of European cooperation is at stake. 

This is why institutional reform is worth the effort.

Almost 100 thousand Hungarians would like to remain in the UK after Brexit

brexit

In February, 5,500 Hungarians asked for a permanent residency permit, so the total number of Hungarians asking for the document rose to 94 thousand. This might be less than half of the Hungarians living in the UK. All EU citizens have time until July 2021 to decide whether they would like to remain in the United Kingdom or not.


According to Portfolio, all citizens of the EU who arrived in the country before January 2020 are entitled to register in the local Home Office bureaus from spring 2019 to July 2021. Since the Home Office publishes the number of applicants from each country,

it is easy to follow how many Hungarians would like to continue their lives in the United Kingdom.

Based on the February numbers, an additional 5,500 Hungarians handed in their applications for a permanent residency permit, which they will automatically get thanks to the simplified registration system. Numbers around 5,000 can be regarded as the average, but in January, this increased to 9,100.

The total number of Hungarians who would like to remain in the United Kingdom is 94 thousand, and authorities expect that it will exceed 100 thousand in a couple of months. Portfolio stresses that the high number of registration verifies that the real number of Hungarians living in the country is much higher than what official data says (88 thousand), and

it might be around 220-230 thousand.

The British embassy in Budapest agrees with Portfolio‘s calculations, saying that 88 thousand is just the number of those who have already registered. However, since registration was not compulsory in the European Union, many do live or have lived there without it. Therefore, the embassy says that the number of around 200-250 thousand people is much more realistic than 88 thousand.

The same happened in the case of Bulgarians and Romanians: there are more people who have already applied for a permanent residency permit than the official number of Bulgarians and Romanians living in the United Kingdom was.

The coronavirus epidemic will probably affect the registration process, too, since the bureaus where people can register will close. Of course, those who want to stay can hand in the relevant documents later. The worst consequence is that many will lose their jobs because of the virus, so

it might happen that many Hungarians will decide to come home. 

Especially because most guest workers are employed in the tourism and catering sector, which is hit hard by the epidemic.

Many Hungarian families consider returning home from UK

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An increasing number of Hungarian families living in the UK are considering the option of moving back to Hungary because of the high cost of nursery care, the prime ministerial commissioner in charge of the policy of Hungarians abroad said in Cardiff on Friday.

Katalin Szili visited the Hungarian community in the capital city of Wales and attended a regional diaspora conference.

London
Read alsoBrexit – Moving to the UK will be impossible for Hungarians

Further incentives for these families are the family support measures implemented in the recent years by the Hungarian government, she told MTI by phone.

The number of Hungarian schools is constantly growing in the United Kingdom, she said, noting that their current number is 23 in England and three in Wales.

There are currently 1,550 pupils attending these schools, six of which opened in the past three years, Szili added.

She praised Hungarian-Welsh cultural ties, noting a festival of the two countries’ choirs scheduled for next week.

EU net migration to UK falls after 2016 Brexit vote

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Following peak levels of over 200,000 in 2015 and early 2016, the European Union (EU) net migration to Britain has declined and stands at 64,000 in the year ending September 2019, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has said.

In the year ending September 2019, there are 196,000 EU citizens arrived to live in Britian, while 133,000 left, said the ONS in a report.

London
Read alsoBrexit – Moving to the UK will be impossible for Hungarians

Meanwhile, the number of people moving to Britain from outside the EU is now at its highest level on record, said the ONS.

In the 12 months to September 2019, an estimated 379,000 people moved to the country from outside of the EU, the highest number since records began in 1975.

Net migration from nations not in the EU also reached its highest level since 2004, with an estimated 240,000 more people arriving than leaving, said the ONS.

During the same period, the number of migrants coming to Britain to study overtook those coming to work for the first time since 2012.

Chinese students account for almost a third of the non-EU immigrants at nearly 120,000, up 20 percent in a year, followed by Indian students whose numbers nearly doubled to 37,450 last year.

Iain Lindsay Brexit Hungary ambassador
Read alsoBrexit: the British ambassador sends a message to Hungarians – video

“Immigration for study has gone up and is now the main reason for migration. This is driven by more non-EU students arriving, specifically Chinese and Indian,” said Jay Lindop, director of the Center for International Migration at the ONS.

Brexit – Moving to the UK will be impossible for Hungarians

London

According to Hungarians who live in the United Kingdom, the introduction of the scoring system from Australian influence will make moving to the UK impossible for Hungarians. 

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Read also75 thousand Hungarians want to remain in the UK after Brexit

Pénzcentrum reported that the government of the United Kingdom decided to make the replica of the system which originates from Australia. Everyone who would like to move to the UK will have to get through this survey from January 2021. 

Out of 130 points, the minimum which has to be scored is 70. Below the minimum score, the British authorities will not allow entering the country.

The criteria are the following: 

  1. Acceptable level of English language knowledge: 10 points
  2. Exact job offer: 20 points
  3. Special skills for the offered job: 20 points
  4. Lack of employees in the chosen job: 20 points
  5. Payment of 2,133 pounds/month: 20 points
  6. PhD degree: 10 points 

The scoring system aims to decrease the number of immigrant people with weak skills and a poor level of English and to avoid letting more into the UK. 

Iain Lindsay Brexit Hungary ambassador
Read alsoBrexit: the British ambassador sends a message to Hungarians – video

According to Hungarians, this scoring system has many problems. First of all, British companies are only eager to offer a position for an immigrant if he/she already has a British address and phone number. Moreover, the payment mentioned can be easily earned in London, but outside the capital, there is no company to offer such a payment. 

Only an estimated 5% of Hungarians could have the chance to move to the UK from January 2021. 

For those who are planning to move to the country, it is advisable to take action this year, and those who are already in the UK need to spare some money for the citizenship status. 

Read alsoBritish ambassador: No change for Hungarians living in UK after Brexit

Hungarian gastronomy conquering London! – PHOTOS

Hungarian gastronomy

Today, opening a fine dining restaurant in London might seem like an adventurous business. However, a Hungarian team decided to run the risk with their new idea – they aim to conquer the world of gastronomy by introducing Hungarian dishes in a fine dining style. Even though they live in London, Hungarian traditions have a special place in their heart. Let us see their story.

As one of the masterminds, István Ruska, explains, nowadays, not many residents in London start the day with Hungarian food. Now, this could be changed. István had arrived in the British capital at the age of 21, without any specific plan. Fifteen years later, his plan was crystal clear – and then came the Turul project.

“Stew with dumplings in its traditional Hungarian version is not demanded anymore; however, we also pursue this line in a special way. During the process, food is broken down into its component parts and then prepared by English and French cooking techniques,”

says István about the project, which is currently organised as an event.

Hungarian gastronomy
Image: www.facebook.com/turulproject/

The Turul project is organised every two to three months, offering several traditional Hungarian dishes in their redesigned version.

By way of example, goulash soup is a perfect starter for a five-course degustation menu, including confit beef, vegetables, and paprika tuile held together with jelly, doused with paprika soup. Not to mention the reimagined potato casserole “à la Française”, the bread and dripping, or the vanilla neapolitan wafer.

Chef Mihány Valincsek and his partners are continuously enhancing their creativity by coming up with new, unique ideas. However, the target audience is not primarily Hungarians. The team is more interested in the reaction of foreigners who seem to be satisfied with the service provided.

Hungarian gastronomy
Image: www.facebook.com/turulproject/

As Hungarian news portal hvg reports, the idea of opening a restaurant is a long-cherished dream. However, financially, it is not an easy process. Its realisation is planned for 2021.

The expansion of Hungarian gastronomy in London is also planned to be realised – first, a fine dining Hungarian restaurant will be opened, then a fine dining Hungarian confectionery, and finally, a restaurant in Hungary, Seoul, etc.

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Read alsoShort but sweet: Restaurant tips for the lovers of gastronomy

István’s ambitious plans are not empty words as he acted as a consultant and business leader during the inauguration of Maremma, which is now listed among the TOP 10 restaurants. The meaningful name refers to the raw materials which are transported from the Italian region, as well as their original recipes. 

According to István, “People have been searching for something new recently, as every corner has an Italian, Portuguese, or Spanish restaurant.”

Read alsoHow much do you know about Hungarian gastronomy? – QUIZ

 

Besides location, timing is another factor that should be considered. As he says, Brexit is followed by an uncertain period. However, if the situation stabilises, the country can benefit from it. And it is also important that no one was expelled who came from the EU – the healthcare system and hospitality business would have collapsed then.

“I work in an Italian restaurant where the food comes from the homeland of my direct employee. This experience exchange is extremely useful. My plan is to share Hungarian traditions and culture with a wider audience so that my foreign colleagues will buy Mangalica sausage in a local Hungarian store.”

Which countries are the most interested in the real estate market of Hungary?

house flat hungary budapest Kató Alpár

In 2018, the number of foreign people who searched for an available flat in Hungary increased by 23% compared to 2017. Last year, this increase was only 6%, but many people from different countries are still interested in Hungarian flats. 

Forbes reported that the real estate market of Budapest is mostly interesting for British people, but Brexit might change their attitude and needs for flats in foreign countries. The government of the United Kingdom continues to negotiate with the European Union until December 31 about the issue of leaving the EU. 

Read alsoWhat do British people love about Hungary?

Most people interested in Hungarian flats were registered from Germany (52,640), the UK (31,639), and Austria (31,334). Not only British people, but Hungarian people living in the UK were also interested in coming home to Hungary. 

Other top countries include Switzerland, the USA, Romania, Slovakia, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, France, and Sweden. Countries with the least registered interest are China, Turkey, Russia, Australia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, and Croatia. 

OTP Ingatlanpont says that in the downtown districts of Budapest, more than a quarter of real estates are bought by foreigners, mostly Chinese, and the trend is that many of them are no longer buying flats in the Hungarian capital for business purposes only.

Based on the data of the Hungarian Central Statistical Office, the share of foreigners in the Hungarian real estate market is 2.3 pc, which is not much at first glance. However, in the case of Budapest, this rate increases to 12 pc while in some downtown districts of the Hungarian capital, this number reaches 25-30 pc. 

Hungarians live their lives in a bit more than 3 flats
Read alsoForeigners buying the most flats in Budapest?

Featured image: Daily News Hungary

Triest and the future of a post-Brexit EU

Daily News Hungary

The year 2020 and the Brexit will increasingly focus public attention on the need for certain long overdue and inevitable EU reforms that are vital for the survival of the European Union.

After the UK’s exit, the German-French “steamroller” will be (hopefully at least) in full swing and take a tighter grip on the EU’s rein. This could comprise several different concepts and measures, such as the “two-speed” Europe, the Eurozone and disciplining recalcitrant member states. In the long run, staying out of the Eurozone will mean being left out of the European Union as well. However, even the survival of the Euro has its own special conditions.  At this point, let me refer to the “Father of the Euro” Alexander Lámfalussy, who soon pointed out that if the monetary union was not coupled with a fiscal union (i.e., a harmonized EU financial policy), the ECB monetary political tools would be insufficient to handle the repeated crises and the EU would be destined to a permanent crisis, which would prevent any persistent currency. However, such harmonization requires reforms that some “illiberal-leaning” EU members will have difficulty accepting since having their “own currency” is a key instrument for sustaining their clientèle and, ultimately, their power.

Many analysts are convinced that the real token of the EU’s survival lies in a shift from the intergovernmental union towards a federal European model, which is most probably true for certain areas, such as foreign and defence policy, financial policy, development policy, environmental policy and the labour market.

Interestingly enough, the hero of the 1848-49 Hungarian freedom fight and war of independence, Lajos Kossuth already conceived of the concept of a European confederation by the second half of the 19th century, being the first to raise the European confederation “of the nations living along-the-Danube” . By doing so, he largely acknowledged the truth of his intellectual opponent Count Széchenyi (the great patriotic aristocrat, who established the Hungarian Academy of Science which is being destroyed by the illiberal Orbán regime at this very moment).

Beside the inevitable EU reforms, the Union’s geopolitical structure must also be reconsidered: the Brexit will cause an even more intensive weight concentration along the Franco-German axis (Strasbourg-Brussels-Luxembourg-Frankfurt). Being unsustainable in the long run, it will most certainly cause problems and decelerate the integration of the member states situated on the periphery. It will serve as a hotbed for “anti-Brussels” sentiments as well as “anti-Brussels” rhetoric and instigation.

Hungary’s example shows how realistic this scenario is: one of the key themes of the 2018 elections (won by the incumbent by a two-thirds majority) was how to “suppress Brussels’ power” and “fend off Brussels’ attacks”.

Orbán’s party flooded the country with such outdoor media posters where Brussels and EU leaders were depicted as the enemy.  Orbán, who has become Putin’s, Erdogan’s and China’s quartermaster, might sound like an extreme example but the danger is real: always being more exposed to crises by default, peripheral countries may very easily develop an extremely anti-Brussels sentiment which demagogue politicians will be more than ready to further incite for their own benefit.

Another question is how long the EU and, more specifically, such a key representative of European values as the European People’s Party, is willing to tolerate among its ranks Orbán’s Fidesz which has become an extreme organization as well as an active destroyer of the said European values and unity? 

The necessary EU reforms will definitely take these factors intoaccount, and these reforms must also be viewed from the aspect of the EU’s peripheral member states. That’s what is proposed by an excellent study published by the Vienna Institute of International Economic Studies (Wiener Institut für Internationale Wirtschaftsvergleiche WIIW) in November 2019, which states that the EU’s Central and Eastern European region is unsustainably underdeveloped and will lag behind even more. So the researchers recommend implementing such infrastructural development projects that could connect Central and Eastern Europe’s underdeveloped  regions into the European bloodstream in a sustainable manner. These projects could more efficiently link the underdeveloped regions to Western Europe’s most advanced areas, thus promoting the development of the underprivileged belt and preventing the westward migration of the highly-skilled and young labour force, which is already taking alarming dimensions. 

This idea is further supported by the voices urging for setting up a South Eastern European centre for the EU in addition to the existing North Western hubs.

Instead of just hosting a few EU institutions, this new centre could be a real “second Brussels” with the seats of major EU institutions, thus replacing Strasbourg, for example. According to several analysts, the most likely candidate would be the Triest-Rijeka region which offers all the features that Brussels has and even far more. Lying on the border of South, Central and Eastern Europe, it is a multinational seaside location with a great historical heritage that connects the Germanic, the Slavic and the Latin cultures and has been functioning as a key junction of land and marine trading routes for millennia. It could become a genuine connective link for the EU, not only to the Balkans and the Mediterranean but to Northern Africa and the Middle East as well, which may have significant implications for the future. The establishment of such a new and truly important EU capital would be far more than just a gesture to the EU’s peripheral member states or partners and neighbours wishing to join the Union ; it could also promote the EU’s long-term sustainability and survival. 

Guest author: Dr István Teplán President, Prosum Foundation

Brexit: the British ambassador sends a message to Hungarians – video

Iain Lindsay Brexit Hungary ambassador

He spoke to Hungarians in Hungarian and to his British compatriots in English. This is not the first time that Iain Lindsay spoke Hungarian. For example, he regularly reads out from Hungarian books and poems on the Day of Hungarian Culture.

He said in his message that they welcome Hungarians in the United Kingdom because they contribute a lot to the prosperity of the country and to making the scientific and cultural life more diverse and colourful, Szeretlek Magyarorszag reported. As we reported HERE, European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen signed an agreement regarding the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union last Thursday, so the United Kingdom left the European Union on Friday at midnight with a Withdrawal Agreement. Lindsay stressed that leaving the EU does not mean that from now on, London is going to turn her back on Europe and Hungary.

“The friendship between the United Kingdom and Hungary has a century-long past. We would like to deepen, widen, and tighten this relationship with our Hungarian partners,” the British ambassador to Hungary added. 

He said to the Hungarians living in the United Kingdom that, thanks to the preliminary negotiations, the legal framework of their life there is unchanged,

so their rights are guaranteed.

He emphasised that they welcome Hungarians even in the future because they provide added value to the British economy, science, culture, and the prosperity of the country. Moreover, one of their main targets is to tighten educational and cultural relationships between the United Kingdom and Hungary because their universities are the Hungarian students’ third most popular destination to continue their studies. He also said that there is a strong commercial and investment cooperation between the two countries. Finally, they have to tackle several common challenges in foreign or defence policy.

https://www.facebook.com/ukinhungary/videos/652983428779462/

Therefore, he said that Brexit does not mean a farewell but the beginning of a new common future.

“Let us grab the moment and let us work together on the deepening and widening of the British-Hungarian relationship,”

he concluded.

To his British compatriots living in the EU, Iain Lindsay said that, thanks to the Withdrawal Agreement, they would be able to live their lives broadly as they do now. He added that there is a transition period until the end of 2020, during which the rights of UK citizens in the EU will not change. Those UK citizens who are properly registered until the end of the transition period will be protected by the Withdrawal Agreement, which protects everybody to live, work, and study just like before Brexit.

Therefore, he advised each UK citizen to properly register with the Hungarian immigration authorities. In the coming months, everybody should sign up to ‘Living in Hungary’ on gov.uk and sign up for email alerts. Furthermore, they should follow the Embassy on social media (HERE).

https://www.facebook.com/ukinhungary/videos/495783298038891/

EU leaders send message of unity, hope as UK departs

brexit celebration

Top European Union (EU) leaders sent a message of unity and hope on the day of the United Kingdom’s departure, vowing that a smaller bloc would not translate into a weaker one.

Presidents Charles Michel, David Sassoli and Ursula von der Leyen, respectively of the European Council, the European Parliament and the European Commission, stood together on Friday morning to deliver remarks meant to elicit optimism and energy on the day when they lose one of the bloc’s most important economic, political and military powerhouses.

Read alsoBritish ambassador: No change for Hungarians living in UK after Brexit

“We stand at a new departure for Europe. We should not forget how much stronger we are when we act together,” said Sassoli.

“It’s never a happy moment when someone leaves but we are opening a new chapter. We will devote all our energy to building a stronger, more ambitious EU. With 27 strong democracies, strong values, freedoms, 22 million businesses, and the biggest single market,” said Michel.

brexit official
Photo: MTI/EPA/Olivier Hoslet

“Indeed, tomorrow, almost half a century of the United Kingdom’s membership of the European Union is over. When the UK joined — I was still at school — we were six Member States. Tomorrow we will be 27 Member States,” said von der Leyen.

“During all these years … our Union has gained political impetus and has become a global economic powerhouse. Our experience has taught us that strength does not lie in splendid isolation but in our unique Union,” she added.

london street people
Read also75 thousand Hungarians want to remain in the UK after Brexit

LESSONS FROM BREXIT

Despite their upbeat rhetoric, the leaders were pressed by questions what lessons the EU have learned.

“It’s essential in the future to take much more into consideration the expectations of the European citizens towards the European Union. It’s also very important to explain what is the daily added value of this political project,” Michel said, referring to the concept usually repeated by pro-EU figures that the EU is not a perfect final product but an ongoing process that constantly needs adaptations and perfections.

Von der Leyen stressed the unity, saying within three and a half years of Brexit, there was a very precious experience — the 27 other EU member states sticking together.
To the surprise of many observers, during the Brexit negotiations, the EU27 held together around Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier to square off with London, where bitter divisions unseated the government of then Prime Minister Theresa May.

“It’s way more than each single country would ever have on its own, and we make the experience how strong we are defending our values, our interests but also protecting our member state Ireland. And therefore this experience of being together and solving problems together was a valuable one,” she said.

FUTURE PRIORITIES

The EU leaders also took advantage to highlight the bloc’s priorities despite Brexit.

Von der Leyen, in charge of the executive branch of the EU, said the challenges that Europe faces, and the opportunities that it can grasp, have not changed because of Brexit, “It is the climate change and the European Green Deal. It is being at the forefront of the digital revolution. It is managing migration in an effective and humane way. It is building strong partnerships across the globe.”

Another priority will no doubt be the coming negotiations between the EU and UK on their future relations. Brussels sent clearly signals that it wishes the best possible relationship with the UK. “But it will never be as good as membership,” von der Leyen said.

The EU has maintained that how much London remains aligned with Brussels’ rules will determine its access to the single market, the UK’s largest trading partner.
“The more the UK will diverge from EU standards, the less the access to the single market,” Michel said.

Britain prepares to leave EU amid public concerns over uncertainty

brexit farage

Amid continuing public concerns over uncertainties, Britain is set to leave the European Union (EU) on Friday after its Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal was given final seal of approval in the European Parliament Wednesday.

There were emotional scenes in the European Parliament as MEPs voted by 621 to 49 in favour of the Withdrawal Agreement and linked hands to sing a final chorus of Auld Lang Syne.

British MEPs are packing up their offices in Brussels, as 3 million Brexit commemorative 50p (about 65.5 U.S. cents) coins, promising “friendship with all nations”, will go into circulation across Britain on Friday to mark the exit at 11:00 p.m. (2300 GMT).

Johnson is expected to deliver a speech next week saying he is willing to accept border checks after Brexit, with sovereignty prioritised over frictionless trade, according to English newspaper The Daily Telegraph.

However, British citizens living in the EU remain confused and worried about their post-Brexit healthcare and pension provision, despite the fact that both issues were considered settled satisfactorily in the Withdrawal Agreement, a Guardian callout suggested.

Read alsoBritish ambassador: No change for Hungarians living in UK after Brexit

More than 100 of over 600 British nationals on the continent, who responded to the callout, cited fears of shrinking pensions and losing the right to medical treatment.

Much of the confusion has arisen due to the announcements last year about the rules that would apply in the event of a no-deal Brexit. The signing of the Withdrawal Agreement, a legally binding international treaty, means these announcements are no longer valid.

In September, the British government announced that if Britain left the EU without a deal it would continue to fund the healthcare costs of Britons living abroad, mainly pensioners, who benefit from reciprocal healthcare arrangements for a maximum of six months, or 12 for people with pre-existing conditions.

Public concerns have not been assuaged by the fact that some EU states have not updated their Brexit information online to take account of the Withdrawal Agreement, the Guardian newspaper reported.

Under the agreement, at the end of the transition period in December 2020, anyone with an existing British S1 reciprocal healthcare form will continue to have their healthcare costs met by the government, as long as they remain legally resident in their host country.

An S1 form will also entitle the holder to a “UK European health insurance card” for treatment when travelling within the EU. Pensioners living on the continent will also continue to be entitled, under Britain law, to free treatment in Britain, said the Guardian.

With 80 percent of the estimated 1.3 million Britons on the continent of working age or younger, the Withdrawal Agreement’s failure to guarantee continued rights to freedom of movement, cross-border working and cross-border recognition of professional qualifications for Britons was of real concern, said the newspaper.

After 11:00 p.m. (2300 GMT) Friday, the British passport is expected to change color. Blue passports will be making a return, more than 30 years after they were replaced by the current burgundy design.

Announcing the change in 2017, then British immigration minister Brandon Lewis praised the return to the “iconic” blue-and-gold design, first used in 1921.

The new color will be phased in over a number of months, with all new passports issued in blue by the middle of the year. Existing burgundy passports will continue to be valid, local media reported.

During the transition period starting from Feb. 1, Britain will continue to obey EU rules and pay money to the union. Johnson has said that he will not allow the transition period to be extended beyond Dec. 31.

Heads of European Council, European Commission sign Brexit deal

brexit deal signed

European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday signed an agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, the Council said in a statement.

After the signing, the Brexit deal will be submitted to a European Parliament plenary vote next week. Once the European Parliament gives its consent, the Council will conclude the agreement on behalf of the EU.

Read alsoBritish ambassador: No change for Hungarians living in UK after Brexit

Last Wednesday, the bill was approved by the Houses of Parliament in the UK, paving the way for the country’s exit from the EU in due time.

As written procedures demand, the UK will leave the EU at midnight on Jan. 31.

brexit deal signed
Photo: www.facebook.com/Charles Michel

During the transition period, which ends on Dec. 31 this year, the UK and the EU will negotiate a future trade deal.

Hungary set to outperform average EU GDP

forint

According to a current report by economic and financial analysis firm ING, Hungary is poised to exceed the average EU GDP heading into 2020. At around 3.8% yearly growth compared to the EU’s 1.4%, this sets Hungary as one of the highest performing countries in the EU, though growth is predicted to slow as the next decade progresses.

The rapid current levels of growth are due to increases in labor market participation, which has recently approached full levels of employment. This trend has been steady since late 2013, which experts have put down to constant increases in wages and investment in training programs.

The Numbers

At the end of 2019, the unemployment rate in Hungary of 15-64 year-olds decreased by 0.2% to an all-time record low of 3.4%.

Playing the most significant part in this recent shift was an increasing level of employment with women, while men’s employment rates over the last year remained mostly unchanged.

The report also states that the structure of the labor market is one that should see some slowing within the next couple of years. This is because, overall, a much lower number of new workers joined the primary and fostered workforce over the last year period.

In the primary market, the workforce grew by 84.5k over the last year to around 4.3 million. While still a large addition, this is a sizeable reduction compare to increases in the previous few years. Similarly, the number of fostered workers, that is those in low skilled and state-financed jobs, also dropped in 2019.

Economists speculate that these numbers, combined with the fact that almost 36% of the 155k unemployed have been looking for work for over a year, signifies that Hungary is approaching a potentially serious discrepancy within the labor market.

As for the real contributions to GDP, these are closely tied with Hungary’s existing largest industrial sectors. This means mining and steel, chemical, and automobile production rank as the biggest contributors. It should also be noted that the technology sector has been showing continual expansion since 2010, with an average annual growth of just over 6%, so it’s definitely an area to watch.

What Does This Mean?

A stronger economy means confidence in Hungary’s markets and businesses is approaching an all-time high. Those who invested previously in the Forint have enjoyed an increase in value over the last seven years, but this is far from the only potential line of investment.

With the latest news of GDP growth, many additional investors are also jumping on board. While the dividends of new investors are expected to be smaller than those who have been involved for years, current trajectories still paint this as a worthwhile pursuit.

In terms of businesses moving from other locations into Hungary, this is a likely outcome for a few, but it shouldn’t prove a reliable pattern.

Due to similarly strong GDP growth of the countries surrounding Hungary, movement over the border will be uncommon, with the worst-performing GDP nations like Spain, Italy, and Greece being too far for such a move to make financial sense.

Immigration, on the other hand, is expected to see a rise in Hungary over the next few years. Reliable growth and a high standard of living make it an attractive destination for skilled labor, from neighboring countries and far beyond.

Questions Going Forward

The biggest question-mark for Hungary at this point is the same for many others in the EU: the matter of Brexit.

With the UK rapidly pivoting between a deal and no-deal agreement, the short- and long-term ramifications remain in question.

That said, despite wavering levels of uncertainty over the past two or three years, the pound has remained remarkably stable. To discover whether that makes the Forint/GBP combination as good an investment as EUR/GBP, a good place to start would be to find a place for getting currency pairs explained by brokers who have high reputations and long years of experience, proving their worth when it comes to making such decisions.

In the event of a no-deal Brexit, there will undoubtedly be a decrease in tourism originating from the UK. Without free movement, this added complexity may prove a hindrance, though the degree this could play on Hungary’s overall tourism trade should at least prove minimal. In terms of trade, the effect of Brexit should also prove minimal, as the UK accounts for less than 5% of Hungary’s yearly trade.

With growth only just beginning to slow, it’s unknown how drastically Hungary’s GDP could be affected within the next few years. At any rate, it should still be placed over the EU average until the mid-2020s at least. With increased confidence and more eyes of this corner of the EU than ever before, Hungary’s performance on an international scale should remain strong for some time.