Croatia

The cornerstone was laid for ethnic Hungarian centre in Osijek

Eszék Osijek Hungarian center

Politicians are obliged to maintain good neighbourly relations and help their ethnic minorities abroad, house speaker László Kövér said after meeting Croatian counterpart Gordan Jandrokovic in Osijek (Eszék), in NE Croatia, on Wednesday.

The house speakers laid the cornerstone of a students’ hostel for the Hungarian educational and cultural centre of Croatia. Kövér said

the southern Hungarian city of Pécs and Osijek were home to some of the most important educational facilities of local ethnic minorities.

Jandrokovic said minority protection are exemplary in both Croatia and Hungary and ethnic Croatians in Hungary are satisfied with the conditions provided by Hungary.

The Hungarian educational and cultural centre of Croatia was opened in September 1999 but has not had a hostel so far.

The Croatian government supports the construction of the new building with 8.5 million kunas.

Kövér also attended an event marking the 25th anniversary of the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Croatia (HMDK) in Beli Manastir (Pélmonostor). He said national minorities must learn how to preserve their dedication to the mother tongue and native culture, and at the same time be a loyal part of the state that is their homeland.

As we wrote on 3rd fo October, Hungary and Croatia will turn to the European Commission on the matter of fixing tariffs for the delivery of gas from the LNG terminal under construction on the Croatian island of Krk to Hungary, read more HERE.

Photo: MTI

Orbán’s cabinet: Fair cooperation with other countries possible if strong national identities involved

Hungary Croatia

Hungary-Croatia ties show that fair cooperation can be maintained with other countries in the European Union even when strong national identities are a part of the equation, László Kövér, Hungary’s Speaker of Parliament, said on Wednesday.

Croatia is a good neighbour and an important partner in the economy and tourism, Kövér told journalists in Pécs, in southern Hungary, during a meeting with Gordan Jandrokovic, his Croatian counterpart, on cross-border affairs.

Both countries are developing national minority policies that can serve as examples to other members of the bloc, he added.

“As far as the EU’s future is concerned, this is a highly important issue,” he said. Contrary to received wisdom, relations can be fair if strong national identities are part of the equation, he added.

Kövér thanked the Croatian government and his Croatian counterpart for their support for the construction of a Hungarian college in Osijek (Eszek), a project already under way.

Jandrokovic said that both countries are doing a lot for their ethnic minorities, and their efforts could serve as examples for other countries.

Visiting an ethnic Croatian kindergarten, primary and secondary school, and college complex earlier in the day, Jandrokovic said that “what I have seen in Pécs has made a deep impression on me”.

He said he was very pleased with the rights granted to Hungary’s Croats and the way the community was using those rights.

“On the other side of the border the Croatian government takes similar care of ethnic Hungarians and it will stay that way in future,” Jandrokovic said.

Featured image: MTI

Hungary, Croatia turn to Brussels on LNG delivery tariffs

Hungary and Croatia will turn to the European Commission on the matter of fixing tariffs for the delivery of gas from the LNG terminal under construction on the Croatian island of Krk to Hungary, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said after meeting with Croatian Minister of Environmental Protection and Energy Tomislav Coric in Budapest on Tuesday.

Hungary could take delivery of 1.7 billion cubic metres of gas a year from the terminal which has capacity of 2.6 billion cubic metres, Szijjártó said.

The LNG terminal presents an opportunity to diversify Hungary’s energy supply in the period after 2020, when its long-term gas supply contract with Russia expires, he added.

The other realistic alternative is taking deliveries of gas extracted by ExxonMobil and OMV Petrom in the Black Sea, Szijjártó said.

Coric welcomed Hungary’s interest in contracting capacity of the Krk LNG terminal.

He said the project was of strategic interest for the EU, noting that the EC has supported it with 100 million euros.

‘Unfortunate’ that MOL-INA dispute ‘overshadows’ Hungary-Croatia cooperation, says Hungarian FM

croatia flag

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, in an interview to Croatian public service television HRT broadcast late on Wednesday, called it “unfortunate” that the dispute surrounding Hungarian oil and gas company MOL and Croatian energy company INA was “overshadowing” Hungarian-Croatian cooperation, which he said could otherwise be “excellent”.

“If we look at just the numbers, trade and cooperation, when it comes to investments, are thriving,” Szijjártó said. “More than half a million Hungarians spend their summer holidays in Croatia, and whenever we mention the Croatian people, we speak of them as friends.”

The minister called it “truly sad” that the MOL-INA dispute was still dragging on.

MOL holds just under half of INA’s shares but has management rights in the company. The other big stakeholder is the state of Croatia. The sides have long been at odds over INA’s strategy.

“It’s hard to understand why it [the dispute] is even on the agenda and why we don’t try to settle it rationally and pragmatically,” the minister said. He added that if the two countries did ever manage to settle the affair, they could both profit from the ensuing upswing in cooperation.

Szijjártó pointed out that MOL is the largest Hungarian company and therefore carried great significance in terms of Hungary’s national interests. Despite being a minority stakeholder in the company, the Hungarian government keeps a close watch on MOL’s business dealings across the country and central Europe, he said.

The minister expressed hope that the Croatian government and INA could reach an agreement with MOL.

Szijjártó said the Croatian government did not need to negotiate with the Hungarian leadership, pointing out that its differences were with MOL. He added, however, that the Hungarian government was still monitoring the situation in hopes of a swift end to the dispute.

As regards the situation of MOL chairman-CEO Zsolt Hernádi, Szijjártó said his case had already been cleared in the Hungarian justice system.

“I truly hope that the Croatian justice system respects this. But I don’t want to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries,” Szijjártó said.

Croatian officials seek to arrest Hernádi on suspicion that he bribed former Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader to give MOL management rights in INA.

Gas supplies on Croatia-Hungary interconnector could start in 2019

By making the Croatia-Hungary gas interconnector reverse-flow capable, Croatia will enable Hungary to buy gas from the network by the end of 2019, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Saturday after talks with Tomislav Coric, Croatia’s minister of environment and energy.

Talks have also started on the price of gas available from the LNG (liquid natural gas) terminal in the Island of Krk, Szijjártó told MTI by phone.

“It serves Hungary’s national security and economic interests if it has as many resources available as possible to buy sufficient volume of gas for the operation of the economy and also to satisfy private consumers’ demands,”

Szijjártó said in Dubrovnik where he is attending an international foreign and security policy event dubbed the Dubrovnik Forum.

A Hungarian-Russian gas purchase agreement currently in force will expire at the end of 2020 at the latest. This will create a completely new situation and it will enable Hungary to involve new resources in its gas supply, he added.

“Croatia could become a strategic partner in this respect,” he said.

The LNG terminal in Krk is expected to be completed by the second half of 2020, he added.

“We made it clear to our Croatian partners that Hungary will buy liquid natural gas from Croatia only if its price is competitive,” he said, adding that in order for Hungary to sign a long-term gas supply agreement Croatia must offer long-term guarantees.

Commenting on the issue of migration, he said he had also held bilateral talks with Deputy Prime Minister of Macedonia Radmila Sekerinska and Foreign Minister of Bosnia-Herzegovina Igor Crnadak.

“I informed them that Hungary is willing to offer all the help necessary to Bosnia-Herzegovina and to Macedonia in order to enable them to maintain controls over their borders and prevent another wave of migrants from crossing the Western Balkans,” Szijjártó said.

Court refuses to hand over MOL CEO Hernádi to Croatia

MOL Hernádi MOL President-CEO Zsolt Hernadi

A Budapest court has refused to carry out a European arrest warrant and hand over MOL President-CEO Zsolt Hernádi to the Croatian authorities, according to a statement released by the Metropolitan Court on Thursday.

The statement attributed the main part of its decision to “the danger that a forced handover may impede his right to a fair trial and an impartial judgement in his case could not be guaranteed.”

An additional reason is that the Metropolitan Court already ruled in May 26, 2014 in connection with a case of alleged bribery that the case against Hernádi should be dropped.

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Photo: MTI

 

Regional farm ministers press for equal protection of agribusinesses, regardless of size

Hungary wheat agriculture

The farm ministers of the Visegrad Group — Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia — together with their counterparts from Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia and Romania issued a joint declaration urging equal treatment for small as well as large agribusinesses in a draft directive of the European Commission at a meeting in Nitra, Slovakia, on Wednesday.

The EC directive would prohibit buyers of farm products from making unilateral or retroactive changes to their contracts with suppliers, and from canceling orders for perishables at the last minute, the press office of Hungary’s farm ministry said.

The directive, drafted thanks to the work of the Visegrad Group over the past several years, is a “step in the right direction” but provides limited protection to small and mid-sized agribusinesses, it added.

As we wrote a few days ago, Hungary’s agriculture has capacity to supply wheat of milling quality to twenty million people, twice the population of the country, read more HERE.

Photo: MTI

More and more Hungarian tourists visit Croatia

Croatia sea coast

The number of Hungarian tourists visiting Croatia went up by more than 7 percent in January-July this year, compared with the same period of 2017, the head of the Croatian tourism agency in Budapest said on Monday.

The number of all foreign tourists visiting the country in the first seven months was 9.725 million, up 5.3 percent on the same period of last year, Marin Skenderovic told MTI. They spent altogether 49.672 million guest nights in the neighbouring country, up also by 5.3 percent, he added.

The number of Hungarian tourists however went up by 7.5 percent to 338,800 and the guest nights they spent in Croatia increased by 7 percent to 1.622 million, he said.

If this trend continues, the number of Hungarian tourists may easily pass a record 600,000, compared with 572,000 in 2018, Skenderovic said.

Ethnic leaders voice support for Hungarian government’s nation policy

Leaders of Hungarian parties in neighbouring countries have voiced support for the Hungarian government’s policies aimed at helping ethnic kin retain their national identity and prosper in their homelands.

Speaking at a roundtable at the Bálványos Summer University in Romania’s Baile Tusnad (Tusnádfürdő) on Friday, László Brenzovics, head of Ukraine’s ethnic Hungarian KMKSZ party, said that

Hungary’s solidarity was instrumental in the survival of his community “amid the Ukrainian state’s anti-Hungarian attacks, efforts to curb education rights and incite hatred against the Hungarian minority”.

István Pásztor, head of Serbia‘s VMSZ party, highlighted the Hungarian government’s economic programme aimed at supporting ethnic Hungarian businesses in Vojvodina province, and said that some 11,000 entrepreneurs had benefitted from the scheme in the past two and a half years.

Ferenc Horváth, the head of Slovenia’s Hungarian community, referred to the same economic programme as well as a Hungarian kindergarten scheme, and said that

Hungarians in Slovenia have “for the first time in 100 years seen that being Hungarian is not a disadvantage but a good thing”.

Slovakia’s MKP party was represented by chairman József Menyhárt, who highlighted the Hungarian government’s scheme designed to save small Hungarian schools from closure. He also announced that his party would field a candidate for Slovakia’s presidential election in the autumn.

Róbert Jankovics, head of Croatia‘s HMDK party, said that funds from Hungary had been instrumental in improving his community’s cultural institutions. He added that Hungarian farmers in Croatia had benefitted from a total one billion forints in grants from the Hungarian economic programme.

Romanian senator Barna Tánczos, who represented the RMDSZ party, said that

Hungary’s diplomatic assistance was very important at a time of recent Romanian court rulings “stigmatising the whole community as terrorists”.

Photo: MTI

Cheap holiday: Direct trains from Budapest to the sea!

croatia dubrovnik

Did you know that you can go to the Adriatic or Slovenian coast directly from Budapest by train? Good news for budget travellers, MÁV’s SEA<–YOU trains leave daily to the Adriatic Sea from Keleti Railway Station, Femina.hu writes.

Everybody loves travelling. However, it is not one of the cheapest summer activities. Luckily, you can save a lot by choosing to travel by train instead of flying or driving.

[button link=”https://dailynewshungary.com/go-balaton-summer-schedule-mav/” type=”big” newwindow=”yes”] Let’s go to Balaton: summer train schedule is here![/button]

The SEA←YOU trains

The SEA←YOU trains of MÁV include the Adria and Istria express trains that go from Keleti Railway Station directly to the Adriatic sea (available between 15 June and 7 September). The trains usually leave in the evening or at night, every day. Passengers spend the night on the train and are expected to arrive at the sea in the next morning.

The Adria express goes to Split, Croatia. The train runs via Székesfehérvár on the south coast of Lake Balaton, Nagykanizsa and Gyékényes, where it crosses the border.

Split, Croatia

The Istria express goes to Rijeka, Opatija or Koper. The train runs via Székesfehérvár, on the east coast of Lake Balaton, then Tapolca and Zalaegerszeg. It crosses the border at Hodoš.

Rijeka, Croatia

Tickets

Passengers can buy the cheaper SparNight tickets for the Adria express for EUR 29, or purchase the regular tickets for EUR 69.60. Passengers can also get return tickets for only EUR 79.50. Regular tickets for the Istria express cost EUR 39, while return tickets cost EUR 49. These are seating tickets; passengers need to purchase extra tickets for the sleeping carriages.

[button link=”https://dailynewshungary.com/191217-2/” type=”big” newwindow=”yes”] Bear spotted waiting for a train in Hungary[/button]

About the carriages

MÁV claims that the SEA←YOU is a retro train. Most of the carriages are from the 1980-90s, with classical, pull-up windows and small cabins. Unfortunately, air conditioning is not provided on SEA←YOU trains. Telephone charging sockets are only available on the carriages to Split.

In the seating carriages, passengers are placed in a cabin with 6 seats. The glass door can be locked from the inside, and the lighting can be individually controlled in each cabin. The sleeping carriage is equipped with closed cabins, lavatory, and beds. 3, 2 or 1 people can be accommodated in one cabin of a sleeping carriage, and there are curtains and blinds inside.

Visit www.mavcsoport.hu for more information.

Majority in CEE countries against migration – survey

Spain migration

The majority of people in the central, eastern and southern European countries are against migration and think preserving Christian culture important, a new survey Nézőpont Institute released on Thursday shows.

The survey was conducted by phone, between May 11 and June 11,

on representative samples of 1,000 people in 11 countries including Hungary, Austria, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria.

Fully 74 percent of respondents thought that immigration from outside the continent was “not good” for Europe. The ratio was lowest in Germany and Austria, where 53 and 56 percent were against migration, respectively. Those saying that migration was good for the EU came to 5 percent in Hungary, 8 percent in Bulgaria, 11 percent in Slovakia and 13 percent in the Czech Republic, Nézőpont said.

Of all respondents in the survey countries, only 30 percent agreed with the EU’s resettlement quota scheme while 63 percent rejected it. Those in favour of the scheme were in majority only in Austria (64 percent), while 76 percent of the Visegrad Group countries’ were against.

A majority in most countries said they were dissatisfied with EU leaders.

Respondents in Romania were dissatisfied the least (33 percent), while 54 percent of Hungarians and 67 percent of Czechs rejected the Brussels “elite”.

Two-thirds of all respondents said that Europe’s Christian culture should be preserved, and 30 percent said that new religions and cultures should be accepted.

Giving preference to Christianity was supported by most respondents in Bulgaria (79 percent), followed by Slovakia (74 percent) and the Czech Republic (71 percent). Multiculturalism was accepted most among Croatians (37 percent), Germans (36 percent) and Austrians (34 percent), according to the survey.

As we wrote on Saturday, Italy is right to block “Soros vessels” from docking in its ports, Hungary’s ruling Fidesz party said, read more HERE.

We also wrote yesterday, Hungary refuses to accept a compromise when it comes to mandatory migrant quotas, the state secretary for European Union affairs said late on Tuesday after attending a meeting of EU ministers focusing on migration and the next EU budget in Luxembourg, read more HERE.

Photo: MTI/EPA/Felix Weiss

Hungarians knock out world champions Croatia to reach World League last four

Water polo hungary

According to waterpolo.hu, our men’s water polo national team were superb in drawing 6-6 with world champions Croatia and then avenged that defeat in the final last year by winning 4-2 on penalties in the Duna Aréna to reach the World League semi-finals where they’ll play Japan at 18:15 today.

It was job done when Hungary beat Japan in their last group-stage fixture, thus ensuring that a repeat of last year’s FINA World Championship final between the hosts and Croatia would take place in the Duna Aréna, this time at the quarter-final stage.

“It will be a great duel”.

However, what must also be taken into account is that nine members of that Croatian squad including key man Sandro Sukno have since retired, while for Hungary six players have ended their international careers. Therefore, this match-up was a very different affair.

For a start, there was no early four-goal advantage handed to the visitors, instead both teams defending stoutly and only conceding once in each of the first two quarters. Left-hander Gergő Zalánki equalised for the hosts after Croatia had taken an early lead from their third player-advantage situation, but Viktor Nagy was still the busier of the two goalkeepers in the first quarter.

Into the second period and again Hungary ceded the initiative, Bijac saving from Krisztián Manhercz before Krapic put Croatia ahead again and Nagy and his defence withstood a subsequent Croatian onslaught, a rearguard action which meant Márton Vámos’ left-hand howitzer levelled the scores at 2-2 as the teams reached the halfway stage.

Thankfully the pattern of the game changed after the break.. in Hungary’s favour! The defence remained almost impenetrable but soon the attack came to the fore, Krisztián Bedő cancelling out Milos’ goal for the visitors and Dániel Angyal and Zalánki both scoring to put HUngary 5-3 up. Unfortunately Vrlic halved the deficit with just nine seconds left of the third quarter.

Water polo hungary
Photo: MTI

Bedő has been in fine form all tournament and he scored again early in the final quarter, only for Buslje to reply in kind. Balázs Erdélyi threw a fierce shot into the side netting and Zalánki hit the woodwork as Hungary lost accuracy at crucial times, but just as important was Nagy’s erstwhile fine form which preserved the home team’s slender advantage. Alas, this only lasted until 1:33 bfore the end when Dávid Jansik was permanently excluded via substitution and Vukicevic capitalised to restore parity.

There were still chances for wither side to to score a winning goal but neither could take them, Angyal blocking a Croatian shot superbly at one poit to ensure a 6-6 draw and a decisive penalty shootout. For us, Vámos, Zalánki, Bence Bátori and Erdélyi were on target but Garcia missed for Croatia and Nagy saved Fatovic’s effort to send Hungary through to the semi-finals as 4-2 victors in the shootout.

Japan then shocked the USA 11-10 to secure a rematch between the two teams just 48 hours after their last meeting.

Men’s World League Super finals, Budapest, Duna Aréna

Quarter-finals

Hungary 6–6 Croatia (1–1, 1–1, 3–2, 1–2) – 4–2 to Hungary on pens
Referees: Colominas (ESP), Flahive (AUS)

HUNGARY: Nagy V. – Vámos 1, Mezei, Jansik D., Kovács G., Erdélyi, Bátori. Replacements: Angyal 1, Manhercz, Zalánki 2, Bedő 2, Pohl. Head coach: Tamás Märcz

CROATIA: Bijac – Fatovic, Buljabasic, Vukicevic 1, Vrlic 1, Setka, Garcia. Replacements: Benic, Krapic 1, Milos 2, Buslje 1, Basic. Head coach: Ivica Tucak

Hungary ready to assist border protection along new migrant route, says official

Bosnia migration

Hungary is ready to help protect the borders of countries along the new migration route by sending police units if necessary, the prime minister’s chief security advisor said on Thursday.

The new migrant route starts out from Albania and goes through Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia to Austria and Italy,

György Bakondi told public broadcaster M1.

At a meeting on Wednesday focusing on the protection of the borders of countries along the new route, the police chiefs of the Western Balkan countries agreed that the borders should be protected by the military, he said.

The interior ministers of the Western Balkan countries are scheduled to meet soon to decide on how to support the border protection efforts, Bakondi said.

He said

a growing number of illegal migrants were entering Europe via the Turkish-Greek border, with the Mediterranean passage having become less active.

The nationality composition of migrants arriving in Europe has also changed with more and more Iranian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Afghan citizens attempting to reach the continent, Bakondi added.

Photo: MTI/AP/Amel Emric

Survey: Central and Eastern European citizens favour strong regional cooperation

Two-thirds of citizens in central and eastern Europe want to see regional cooperation further strengthened, the head of the Nézőpont Institute said at a conference on the subject in Budapest on Wednesday.

At the conference on central European cooperation, Csaba Fodor said that of the 1,000 respondents each surveyed in 9 countries, 80 percent had heard of the Visegrád Group, and 65 percent saw the forum as important. Only 20 percent had heard of the Three Seas Initiative — a forum of CEE countries belonging to the EU around the Baltics, Adriatic and Black Sea — but 64 percent viewed that as important, too, he said.

The countries involved in the survey were Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Romania and Bulgaria.

Fully 75 percent of respondents said they supported their countries’ EU membership, with the Polish and Romanian support the highest (84 percent). Czech and Slovak citizens were the most critical, where 24 and 28 percent, respectively, wanted a divorce from the bloc. In Hungary, 68 percent said they backed the country’s EU membership.

Asked about the EU leadership, 53 percent said they were dissatisfied with it.

Fully 74 percent of respondents rejected migration from outside the continent, and 65 percent were in favour of preserving Europe’s Christian culture, Fodor cited the survey as saying.

Speaking at the conference, Speaker of Parliament László Kövér (ruling Fidesz) said that political elites in western and central and eastern Europe had given different answers to the challenges of preserving a secure democracy on the continent. They agree that the rule of law and the welfare state are assets, Kover said. But on the need to preserve the “steadiest cornerstones of our identity”, such as sexual, family, religious and national identity, they cannot see eye to eye, he said. This is the biggest rift within the EU, he said. In the coming years, citizens of western European countries will have to stand ready to reject a policy devoid of the concept of identity within the framework of democracy, he said.

Cooperation of central and eastern European countries can strengthen all partners, thereby strengthening the “democratic order” of the region, he said.

Defining common goals can also save these countries from becoming pawns in other countries’ power games, Kövér said.

Featured image: Wiki Commons By Scooter20

Music festival in Croatia: Steve Aoki, David Guetta and many others – Ultra Europe

steve aoki ultra europe

The most sought after destination festival of the summer – ULTRA Europe in Croatia – has announced the second phase of its star-studded line-up. Over 30 names have been added to the already impressive billing, with artists like Steve Aoki, Seth Troxler, Jamie Jones and more joining the already announced headliners set to perform at the biggest ULTRA Europe yet.

DESTINATION ULTRA 2018 Dates:

5 July – Destination ULTRA Opening Party at Giraffe Palm Beach House, Split
6-8 July – ULTRA Europe at Poljud Stadium, Split
9 July – Brač Regatta at 585 Club, Zlatni Rat Beach, Bol, Brac
10 July – ULTRA Beach Hvar at Hotel Amfora Grand Beach Resort, Hvar
10 July – RESISTANCE Hvar at Carpe Diem Beach Club
11 July – RESISTANCE Vis at Fort George, Vis

The RESISTANCE heavy second phase includes some of the most elite talent in the house and techno scene. Headliners Jamie Jones, Joseph Capriati, Loco Dice, Marco Carola, The Martinez Brothers, Paco Osuna and Seth Troxler will be joining Carl Cox on the acclaimed techno-driven stage. Rising techno star Charlotte de Witte, renowned Fabric resident Craig Richards, Nic Fanciulli and Dense & Pika have also been announced.

Phase Two also includes a diverse list of international support, featuring a wide array of talent spanning from trance to deep house and trap. First time ULTRA Europe performers will include Crankdat, Sick Individuals, Ilan Bluestone, Cheat Codes (Live), Lost Kings and more. Among the many returning acts are Jewelz & Sparks, Cosmic Gate and Maddix.

ULTRA Europe is a part of the weeklong Destination ULTRA experience.

The celebration will begin with the Destination ULTRA Opening Party on July 5 at the Giraffe Palm Beach House in Split, and will close with the prestigious RESISTANCE Vis at the historic Fort George on July 11. The main event, ULTRA Europe, will return to the Poljiud Stadium in Split on July 6-8.

ULTRA Beach Hvar, a staple in the Destination ULTRA calendar, will be hosted once again at the Hotel Amfora Grand Beach Resort on the idyllic island of Hvar on July 10. Upwards of 30,000 people from more than 80 countries all over the world have attended ULTRA Beach Hvar in the past 5 years, with this edition set to be the biggest yet. This year ULTRA Beach Hvar will be a day party starting at 1pm and running until sunset. The official after party, RESISTANCE Hvar, will take place from 11pm at the famous Carpe Diem Beach Club on the Pakleni Islands.

Zlatni Rat Beach, Bol on the island of Brač, will play host to the Brač Regatta at the brand new 585 Club on July 9, fit to house the scores of partygoers taking the trip to the island keen to get the full Destination ULTRA experience.

Tickets for ULTRA Europe 2018 are on sale now, exclusively at https://ultraeurope.com/tickets/2018/

PHASE TWO LINEUP
HEADLINERS

Afrojack
Alesso
Armin Van Buuren
Axwell /\ Ingrosso
Carl Cox
The Chainsmokers
David Guetta
DJ Snake
Eric Prydz
Galantis
Hardwell
Jamie Jones
Joseph Capriati
Loco Dice
Marco Carola
Marshmello
The Martinez Brothers
Paco Osuna
Seth Troxler
Steve Angello
Steve Aoki

SUPPORT

Ben Nicky
Blastoyz
Charlotte De Witte
Cheat Codes (Live)
Cosmic Gate
Craig Richards
Crankdat
Dense & Pika
DISTO
Dr Phunk
Eats Everything
Estiva
Gregor Salto
Ilan Bluestone
Jewelz & Sparkz
Julian Jordan
KAAZE
KhoMha
KIIDA
KURA
Lost Kings
Maddix
MaRlo
Merk & Kremont
Nic Fanciulli
NLW
Ravitez
Retrohandz
Ricky Breaker
Sick Individuals
Suyano
Tomy DeClerque
Vini Vici

We also wrote about Sziget festtival 2018: The World Stage, Europe Stage and The Colosseum will showcase the best in alternative, new and electronic music from around the world including artists Les Negresses Vertes, LaBrass Banda, Tommy CA$H, KETTCAR, Blaudzun, Ben UFO, The Martinez Brothers, Tiga and over 100 more. Read more details HERE.

Election 2018 – European Jewish Association and more congratulate Viktor Orbán

Semjén

The European Jewish Association (EJA) has congratulated Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on his “resounding win and re-election”, the PM’s press chief said on Wednesday.

In his congratulatory letter, EJA Chairman Rabbi Menachem Margolin praised Orbán for having been “a stalwart defender of Israel on the world stage”.

“During your previous term in office your steadfast assurances and commitments to protect Hungarian Jewry and their heritage were warmly welcomed and were an anchor to us in these turbulent political times,” Margolin wrote.

The EJA chairman expressed his trust that Orbán’s “previous positive and embracing stance” to Hungarian Jewish citizens and Israel would be carried over into his new term and government.

“Europe stands at a crossroads,” the letter said. Margolin reassured Orbán that he would enjoy the EJA’s support as long as he continued to “show the right way ahead when it comes to defending and upholding Jewish rights, and standing up for Israel”.

Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic has also congratulated Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on his recent election victory, the PM’s press chief said on Wednesday.

“I am certain that our countries, which represent numerous shared interests in European and Euro-Atlantic politics, will continue to support one another and work closely together,”

Grabar-Kitarovic wrote in her congratulatory letter, underlining the importance of strengthening central European unity.

“I look forward to carrying out the joint projects launched under the Three Seas Initiative aimed at intensifying our energy, transport and digital relations,” the president said.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has congratulated Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orbán on his victory at Sunday’s general election, the press chief of the prime minister said.

In a letter sent on Tuesday, Rajoy said he was convinced that relations between Hungary and Spain will further expand in the years ahead, advancing the welfare of citizens in both countries.

He urged stronger strategic cooperation with Orbán in the European Union, stating that both of them being members of the European People’s Party will offer a framework for this.

Featured image: MTI

Hungarian, Croatian defence ministers unveil plaque honouring WWI victims

new hungarian forint

Hungarian Defence Minister István Simicskó and his Croatian counterpart Damir Krsticevic unveiled a plaque honoring the 450 Hungarians who fell in WWI in Zagreb’s Mirogoj Cemetery on Tuesday.

Addressing the ceremony, Simicskó said joint commemorations such as Tuesday’s “provide a spiritual ammunition to us all, giving us strength to face up to the challenges of the future”.

Hungary and Croatia are two nations that have not only a shared past but a future as well which they can build further together as friends, he said.

Krsticevic said the two peoples were bound together as friends with their bond going back a thousand years.

“This commemoration today is an outstanding example of the Croatian and Hungarian peoples’ friendship and the bright future they face,” he said.

The plaque was put up at the initiative of Hungarian President János Áder, who paid a visit to the cemetery together with his Croatian counterpart Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic last year to pay tribute to the Hungarian soldiers.

Featured image: MTI

Ministers discuss Croatian-Hungarian defence cooperation

Croatia defence military

The defence ministers of Hungary and Croatia discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries on Wednesday.

Hungary and Croatia are among the safest countries thanks to their soldiers and effective cooperation between them, which should be maintained and further improved, Hungary’s István Simicskó told a press conference after a meeting with his counterpart.

He said he was in agreement with counterpart Damir Krsticevic that defence relations between their respective countries were excellent.

The two countries have been participating in an increasing number of military exercises and they also plan a joint exercise, he added.

A decision has been made to sign three agreements in the near future: on airspace policing, air rescue and radar data exchange. Additionally, a joint working team will be set up in the defence sector, Simicskó said.

Another topic at the meeting was the recently initiated Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) in the European Union which is supported by both Hungary and Croatia, he said.

Among the challenges currently facing Europe, mass migration and the accompanying threat of terrorism were discussed, as well as the issue of identity, Simicskó added.

The ministers agreed to review the progress of defence cooperation every six months.

Featured image: MTI