European leaders will “remain on the wrong path”, serving economic interests over communities, without the guidance of religious communities, the state secretary for church and minority relations said in Budapest on Friday.
Miklós Soltész told a conference organised as part of Hungary’s presidency of the Council of the European Union that selfishness had come to the fore in Europe’s leadership, and “ideologies that are twisting the interests of the created world” had emerged.
He said the EU’s migration policy also threatened the continent, arguing that it aimed to address the bloc’s labour shortage problems instead of the EU providing unconditional help to migrants’ countries of origin. Cardinal Péter Erdő, the Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, highlighted the changes seen in the legal handling of religion and religious communities in certain European countries.
He said that in certain countries religious education had been turned into education about religion and a “cultural offer” suggesting not just civic equality and equal human dignity, but also the “relativity of religious belief”. Bishop József Steinbach, president of the Synod of the Reformed Church in Hungary, said the biggest challenge in Christian service was reaching those who had completely different views of the world.
Andor Grósz, the head of the Federation of Hungarian Jewish Communities Mazsihisz, said that since Hamas’s terrorist attack against Israel a year ago, anti-Semitism in many countries had reached a high not seen for decades. But while surveys showed that 76 percent of Jews in the EU avoided wearing clothing that could be identified as Jewish, the Jewish community in Budapest felt safe to practise their faith because the Hungarian government guaranteed their safety.
Four of Hungary’s mesmerising tourism destinations, Veszprém, Sárvár, Esztergom, and Tokaj-Hegyalja have received prestigious awards recently. Green Destinations has once again compiled its list of the top 100 sustainable tourism destinations for the year, and Hungary performed well on the list.
This year, 170 tourism destinations, including 65 from Europe, competed to have their sustainability projects showcased on the Green Destinations TOP 100 Stories list, Világgazdaság reports. At the award ceremony held on 15 October, it was revealed that only 32 countries, including Hungary with four projects, made it onto the list, according to a statement from Innotime Hungary.
Annual Green Destinations recognition
The international organisation Green Destinations annually recognises destinations around the world that have implemented high-level sustainable tourism initiatives. These projects serve as inspiring examples for both the industry and travellers.
Every year, tourism destinations are given the opportunity to present how they address key challenges such as environmental protection, social equality, cultural heritage preservation, and economic sustainability.
By publishing these exemplary practices, destination management organisations receive recognition for their innovative solutions to the challenges of sustainable development.
Veszprém made it onto the TOP 100 list for the second time this year, along with award-winning projects from Sárvár, Esztergom, and Tokaj-Hegyalja.
Veszprém’s project, linked to its designation as the European Capital of Culture in 2023, earned a spot on the list. The city transformed a neglected 2.3-hectare industrial area—the former site of the Balatoni Furniture Factory—into a vibrant cultural centre known as Gyárkert KultúrPark.
Originally planned as a temporary project, its success led to the extension of the lease for an additional three years. However, this time, the project operates without external funding, relying solely on partial city support and a new business plan.
Tokaj-Hegyalja
In Tokaj-Hegyalja, a model project centred around the village of Bodrogkeresztúr received recognition. It all began when a local stork named Fülöp, who stayed in the village year-round, tragically died after flying into a power line. This event spurred the town to bury its overhead power lines and create a stork-themed visitor centre.
Fülöp, the stork:
Today, the area features an active tourism site offering camping, sports programs, birdwatching, and other conservation-related activities that draw attention to the region’s stork population. Several tourism programs have since been developed, showcasing the unique natural and cultural assets of Bodrogzug and the surrounding area.
Sárvár
Sárvár’s GoGreen project, available via the website gogreen.sarvar.hu, provides an easy-to-use web app. Visitors to the site simply click a button to receive environmentally friendly travel tips. Users can also share these suggestions on social media or access additional information on environmental protection through related blog posts. The app even indicates whether the suggested actions require any preparation or are simple to implement.
Esztergom
One of the best tourism destinations in Hungary: Esztergom. Photo: depositphotos.com
Esztergom’s good practice is tied to its local farmers’ market, operated by the city’s tourism organisation. The market not only offers local producers a platform to sell their goods but also serves both residents and tourists. A city shuttle service, primarily aimed at helping elderly locals access the market, is provided regularly. The market also hosts thematic events for tourists, focusing on local ingredients, products, short supply chains, and showcasing the uniqueness of local businesses.
For years, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has claimed that safety is a hallmark of Hungary, positioning it as one of the safest, if not the safest, countries in Europe. In a recent speech in Italy, Orbán again claimed that “Hungary is the safest country in Europe”. However, a closer look at available statistics paints a more nuanced picture.
For years, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has claimed that safety is a hallmark of Hungary. Photo: FB/Orbán
Orbán has made similar statements before, including in 2022, when he referred to Hungary as “one of the safest countries in Europe” and Budapest as “one of the safest capitals”. Yet, he has never provided specific data to back these claims. When approached by Lakmusz, his press chief, Havasi Bertalan, did not respond to requests for clarification.
Hungary’s safety: A look at the numbers
To evaluate Orbán’s claim, Lakmusz turned to Eurostat data, which tracks 21 types of crimes across Europe. These include serious offences such as homicide, robbery, sexual violence, and corruption. The most recent data from 2022 show that Hungary performs well in only one category: robbery. The country recorded the lowest rate of robberies in Europe, with just 5.5 incidents per 100,000 inhabitants.
However, Hungary’s performance in other crime categories is far less impressive. In terms of intentional homicides, Hungary is in the middle of the pack with 0.88 homicides per 100,000 people. Regarding attempted homicides, Hungary ranks eighth, behind countries like Poland and Ireland.
When it comes to crimes such as human trafficking and sexual exploitation, Hungary again does not rank at the top. For instance, in 2022, Hungary reported 4.77 sexual exploitation cases per 100,000 people, placing it 10th in Europe.
Sexual violence: A complex picture
The situation with sexual crimes is complicated by differences in definitions and reporting between Hungary and other European countries. While Eurostat distinguishes between sexual assault, rape, and sexual violence, Hungary’s penal code refers only to “sexual violence”. As a result, it is difficult to make a direct comparison between Hungary and its European counterparts.
Nevertheless, Hungary’s reported rate of sexual violence (6.06 per 100,000) in 2022 is far from the lowest in Europe. This discrepancy highlights the challenges of comparing crime rates across countries with differing legal systems and reporting practices.
Perception vs. reality
The subjective sense of safety among Hungarians also tells a different story. In a survey by Hungary’s Central Statistical Office (KSH), residents were asked how safe they felt walking alone in their neighbourhoods after dark. While many respondents reported feeling safe, Hungary’s ranking in broader European studies has slipped in recent years.
For example, Hungary has dropped four places on an EU-wide list measuring public perceptions of crime, vandalism, and violence, falling from 5th place in 2020 to 9th in 2023. The percentage of people reporting security concerns rose from 5.3% to 6.1% during the same period.
The global picture
Adding further complexity, Hungary ranked 14th on the 2024 Global Peace Index (GPI), which measures safety and security on a global scale. While this seems positive, it should be noted that several European countries outperform Hungary. On the European list, Hungary ranks only 10th, not the highest as Orbán’s statements might suggest.
Conclusion
Although Hungary has made progress in reducing certain types of crime, particularly robberies, it is far from being the safest country in Europe as Viktor Orbán frequently claims. Whether intentional or not, these statements overlook key data points that paint a more balanced, if less glowing, picture of the country’s safety.
Even if Hungary were to leave the European Union or NATO in the coming years, the Hungarian people’s European identity would remain intact because its roots go far deeper than any political decision, historian Ignác Romsics stated on Magyar Hang’s program Kompország.
Romsics explained in Kompország that while a political decision could be made to withdraw from Western organisations, such a move would undoubtedly trigger alarm bells in people’s minds. The decision to join NATO and the European Union was legitimised through a referendum. According to Romsics, if Hungary were to consider turning its back on these institutions, the public would have to be consulted again.
“I am convinced that in such a scenario, the majority of Hungarians would choose Western and Central Europe over China and Russia, as that is where we have always belonged in spirit,”
he added.
He further noted that Hungary has always been a part of Europe, even during the 150 years of Ottoman rule and throughout the Kádár era. Despite compulsory Russian language education, people disliked it; they would have preferred to learn English or German. Hungarian youth did not gravitate toward Soviet films, but rather American ones. They wore jeans, drank Coca-Cola, and their behaviour reflected a Western orientation, not a Russian one.
Romsics also expressed doubt that the Hungarian people would embrace learning Chinese, despite the government’s growing ties with Beijing. While economic cooperation with China is possible, it poses challenges. Currently, over 70% of Hungary’s export-import activity is with the West. In contrast, only 1.3% of Hungary’s exports go to China, and 7% of imports come from there. In fact, Hungary’s entire trade with Asia accounts for less than 20% of its total foreign trade, he pointed out.
Bucking trends in Europe, the number of crimes committed in Hungary has more than halved since 2010, Bence Rétvári, the parliamentary state secretary of the interior ministry said on Wednesday.
Addressing a press conference held on the occasion of the establishment of the National Crime Prevention Council ten years ago, Rétvárinoted that when the government came into power in 2010, 447,000 crimes were registered in Hungary against 178,000 today.
By contrast, in most parts of Europe crimes are going up due to illegal migration, he insisted.
The government has increased spending on law enforcement to 1,309 billion forints from 449 billion while tightening criminal policy with, for example, the three strikes law. Also, the work of the law enforcement agencies has become more effective, he added.
The state secretary said the establishment of the National Crime Prevention Council ten years ago was “an important achievement”, and its remit is to reduce the number of victims as much as possible as well as rates of recidivism.
Hungarian cities and towns did not perform well in the latest air quality rankings published by the European Environment Agency (EEA), with Budapest standing out for its high levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution in the atmosphere.
Budapest and Hungarian towns polluted
Budapest stands out for its high levels of fine particulate matter pollution in the atmosphere. Photo: Alpár Kató / Daily News Hungary
According to the EEA’s recent report, Budapest ranks 242nd out of 372 European cities in terms of air pollution. Other Hungarian cities also scored poorly, with Pécs taking 246th place, Veszprém in 254th, Szeged in 274th, and Győr at 295th.
These rankings are based on the concentration of PM2.5 particles in the air, a metric that reflects long-term exposure risks to human health. A lower rank means cleaner air, and unfortunately, the higher positions of Hungarian cities highlight the significant pollution problem they face.
The focus on PM2.5 particles is due to their harmful nature, Világgazdaság reports. These tiny particles, which can be as small as 2.5 microns in diameter, are considered the most dangerous among common pollutants. They can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream, leading to serious health issues like respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
In Hungary, poor air quality is linked to around 10,000 premature deaths annually, alongside approximately one million cases of illness each year.
The majority of these health impacts are preventable if actions are taken to curb pollution.
Urgent changes are needed in Europe
The report used data from the last two calendar years, as long-term exposure is typically the most dangerous. Constant exposure to polluted air over time increases the risk of chronic diseases and early death. In 2021, the World Health Organisation (WHO) revised its air quality guidelines, recommending that annual average PM2.5 concentrations should not exceed 5 micrograms per cubic meter.
This is significantly stricter than the European Union’s current target, which allows for up to 25 micrograms per cubic meter. The discrepancy highlights the need for urgent changes to European policies if the continent is to meet global health standards.
“There are countless preventable deaths and illnesses tied to air pollution, which could be avoided if policymakers took decisive action. It’s perplexing why there’s been so much delay in implementing well-known solutions, many of which could rapidly lower pollution levels,” said Judit Szegő, project manager at the Clean Air Action Group. She emphasised that household heating is one of the largest sources of pollution in Hungary.
The biggest sources of pollution in Hungary
Addressing this issue requires a multi-faceted approach, including large-scale public awareness campaigns, financial support for heating alternatives for those in need, and stricter enforcement of environmental regulations.
Szegő also pointed out that tackling traffic-related pollution is another key area where significant progress could be made. “Introducing low-emission zones, creating more 30 km/h speed limit areas, and reforming parking regulations could all contribute to reducing harmful emissions and improving air quality in cities,” she noted.
Meanwhile, the European Union is in the process of reviewing its air quality policies. The goal of this revision is to bring EU regulations in line with the WHO’s updated guidelines, potentially leading to stricter rules for member states, including Hungary. If adopted, these changes could play a critical role in improving the air quality across Europe, protecting public health, and reducing the number of premature deaths linked to pollution.
There is a need for peace in Europe, and for this a strong defence industry is key, the defence minister told a conference in Budapest on Friday.
Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said Europe was facing new challenges even as its defence capabilities and defence industry capacities were ailing.
The European security system must be rebuilt and strengthened, he said at the conference organised at the Ludovika University of Public Service, adding that the EU could count on Hungary.
In the past decade, Hungary has leaned on international partnerships to rebuild its defence industry and improve its defence capabilities, he said.
Hungary’s efforts to strengthen its defence industry serve the whole of Europe, Szalay-Bobrovniczky said.
Hungary has brokered cooperations that resulted in plants such as Rheinmetall’s ammunition factory in central Hungary and vehicle manufacturing plant in Zalaegerszeg, in the south-west, the Airbus plant in Gyula, in south-east Hungary, turning out helicopter parts, and the weapon manufacturing part in Kiskunfélegyháza, in the south, he said.
Besides being committed to defence investments, the government is also focusing on personnel issues, including a programme to boost reservists, he said.
New research reveals which European cities have the best, worst, and busiest metro systems. Luggage storage company Bounce conducted a study of metro services across European capital cities, with some surprising results, Euronews reports.
Bounce’s analysis considered a variety of factors, including average Google review scores for stations, the length of the metro system, the number of stations, annual ridership, and online feedback. These metrics were combined into an overall ‘underground index’ score.
The article states that although the London Underground is one of Europe’s most famous metro networks, it didn’t make the top five in this ranking. It lost points due to its high number of passengers and complex layout, which can be confusing for tourists.
The best and worst metro systems in Europe
Oslo topped the rankings with a score of 8.06 out of 10. Known as the Oslo T-Bane, the system features 101 stations spread across 85 km of track, serving all 15 boroughs of the city as well as parts of the neighbouring Baerum municipality.
Sofia ranked second after Oslo, with a score of 7.64. As Bulgaria’s only metro system and one of the newest in Europe (opened in 1998), Sofia’s network covers 52 km and includes 47 stations, including one at Sofia Airport.
In third place is Athens, with a score of 7.29. The Athens Metro offers a direct connection to the airport, providing affordable and efficient access to the city centre. It has 62 stations over 70 km of track, serving more than a quarter of a million passengers annually.
Rounding out the top 10 are Madrid (6.74) and Warsaw (6.60). Other cities in the top ranks include London, Lisbon, Copenhagen, Bucharest, and Prague.
Photo: facebook.com/bkkbudapest
On the other end of the spectrum, Budapest was ranked the worst metro system in Europe, scoring just 3.13 out of 10. Despite its popularity with tourists, Budapest’s metro system, which includes 48 stations across 39 km, struggles with a high number of passengers (over 382 million annually). While the stations received a respectable Google review score of 4.05 out of 5, 75% of online reactions were negative, with only 1% being positive. The lowest-rated station, Határ út, received a score of just 2.80 out of 5, with reviewers criticising its poor cleanliness and overall unpleasant atmosphere.
The second worst metro system is in Brussels, with a score of 3.20 out of 10. Brussels’ metro system includes 59 stations over 40 km of track. Just behind Brussels is Rome, with a score of 3.75. Rome’s metro system, though larger, with 73 stations spread over 64 km, also received low marks.
Source: Wikipedia
“Travellers in Europe might go their entire trip without ever getting in a car. Many airports have their own metro or railway station with links directly to the city centre, while buses and metros can often take you to any part of larger cities,” says Cody Candee, CEO and Founder of Bounce.
While not all metros are created equal, he adds, they all have something to offer: “Aside from being a quick and practical way of getting around, many metro stations have beautiful designs, and visiting them can be an experience in itself.”
Read also:
Will Budapest’s busiest metro line get air conditioning? Here’s the answer – Read here
Where does Hungary rank on the list of the best countries in the world? – Read here
A consistent enlargement policy is one of the priorities of the Hungarian EU Council presidency, and the aim is a successful support of Moldova’s integration, a state secretary of the public administration and regional development ministry said in Budapest on Monday.
Hungary supports Moldova’s integration
Miklós Dukai told a seminar organised by the Hungarian Diplomatic Academy that EU enlargement would lead to a more competitive cooperation within the bloc, as well as offer new opportunities for the aspirant country.
He noted that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had pledged unconditional support to Moldova’s integration immediately after the EU decided to start accession talks with that country, Dukai said. “Meetings where member states share their experiences with membership candidates are an excellent opportunity to promote reforms in candidate countries and to help fulfilling EU requirements.”
Hungary is committed to sharing information and its 20-year experience as an EU member state with Moldova, to help its integration, he said.
At the two-day seminar held mainly for experts of Moldovan municipalities, participants will hear detailed presentation on the characteristics and tasks of the Hungarian network of local authorities, as specified in the 2011 legislation designed to bring about “a modern, cost-effective, task-oriented system”, he said.
Miklós Lengyel, a deputy state secretary of the foreign ministry, said Moldova was a highly important strategic partner for Hungary. Hungary is committed to developing bilateral ties as well as EU-level relations with Moldova, Lengyel said.
Hungary has to endorse a policy of economic neutrality amid a transformation on a global level which is going with the emergence of economic blocs, the prime minister’s political director told public radio on Sunday.
PM’s political director talks about Hungary’s economic neutrality
Hungary must be on alert to respond with the appropriate strategy in the ongoing enormous global transformation, Balázs Orbán said on Kossuth radio.
He said that certain “western liberal players” aimed to respond to the transformation by limiting the scope of action of their allies in political, military, economic, cultural and other aspects “because they want to prevent them from maintaining ties with countries outside the alliance,” he said. “The emergence of such blocs in the western world would mean for Hungary to come under the control of a bloc, lose its sovereignty which would result in the country’s losing the opportunity to develop,” the political director said, adding that “this must be avoided by all means”.
“We do not want confrontation between the blocs, we reject the policy of the formation of blocs as we also reject the regime of sanctions and ideology or geopolitics driven trade relations,” he said, adding that such an approach “will take Hungary into a situation that allows a dynamic economic growth and development in the coming decades”.
The political director said that Hungary had to defend itself against “the social pressure mounted by the West with the aim to enforce upon us a liberal, universalist western culture in which nation, family, religious and social communities are no longer valued”.
He said Hungary’s modernisation had to continue, insisting that without well-developed infrastructure and industry branches, and advancements in education and talent support the country “will lag behind and will not be able to further strengthen”.
The political director called maintaining Hungary’s sovereignty and broadening the country’s foreign ties important tasks for the next several years.
The political director said that competition was enormous not only for Chinese but for other investments as well. “Hungary performs well in this competition because, among other things, it communicates openly, addresses other countries with respect, openly states what its interests are, what its opportunities are, while others cannot succeed as they want to give a kind of ideological or geopolitical guise to building trade relations, he said.
Photo: FB/Balázs Orbán
Balázs Orbán added that the policy that first made Hungary one of the most important trade partners for Germany and the German-speaking world must be maintained.
The Americans are still present in Hungary to a “significant extent”, cooperation is strong, there is hope this can be strengthened in the future, he said, adding and in recent years “an Asian leg has appeared” in the Hungarian economy. In addition to the Japanese, South Korean, Chinese and other investors have also appeared, while Hungarian companies have also found markets in Central Asia and the Far East, he added.
“These are all results that will show their everyday benefits in the coming years, when people will notice that Hungarian wages are rising, Hungarian jobs are protected, and the Hungarian supply chain is becoming stronger and stronger.”
Talking about the Russian-Ukraine war, he said that according to books, these types of military conflicts are always resolved by restoring communication channels and establishing short-term ceasefires, these create an international environment where there is a chance to reach a long-term solution.
Asked whether the European elite’s attitude towards Hungary would change, the political director said that “the liberals have serious positions in the European political leadership, and we are working against the wind,” but “in European politics in this situation too, there must be an allied policy and strategy on how to enforce their own interests”.
Orban said there had been progress made on this issue in the past months as the Patriots for Europe (PoE) European parliamentary group had been established. “Also, Hungary is now holding the rotating EU presidency and these are serious opportunities that must be tapped.”
The Pujiang Innovation Forum in Shanghai opened on Saturday with Hungary participating as a guest of honour at the four-day event.
“Our goal is to strengthen our research, scientific and innovation relations with our Chinese partners, because if we look around the world, we can see that China is ahead not only of Europe, but also of the United States in innovation and science,” deputy state secretary for innovation László Bódis said at the event.
In the fields of science, research and innovation Hungary also wants to be at the forefront of the world, so it is essential to establish close cooperation with Chinese companies and universities, Mr Bódis said.
Hungary is represented at the event with around forty experts, company and university leaders, who will showcase at the forum in which areas Hungarian innovation provides world-class performance. The Pujiang Innovation Forum is being held for the 17th time since its inaugural event in 2008.
While Asia leads the world in overall beer consumption, Europe shines when it comes to consumption per capita. Nine of the top ten beer-consuming countries are in Europe, making the continent a dominant force in global beer culture. Despite some regional exceptions, this beverage remains a popular drink worldwide.
Beer consumption worldwide
In 2022, China consumed an astounding 42 million kilolitres of beer (1 kilolitre = 1000 litres), representing 21.9% of global consumption, Világgazaság reports, based on Voronoi’s statistics. The United States followed with 20.3 million kilolitres (10.6%), while Brazil ranked third with 14.9 million kilolitres (7.8%).
Regionally, Asia took the lead in ale consumption with 34%, followed by Europe at 26%. South America (19%), North America (12%), and Africa (8%) trail behind. Meanwhile, Oceania and the Middle East barely register on the global beer market, each accounting for just 1%.
Photo: Voronoi/@VisualCapitalist
Interestingly, despite being the world’s most populous country, India ranks 13th in beer consumption with only 2.7 million kilolitres, contributing a mere 1.4% to global figures. Cultural reasons largely explain this low consumption, as many Indians abstain from alcohol, and those who do drink often prefer stronger spirits. Furthermore, strict regulations around advertising and sales in India contrast sharply with Europe’s more relaxed approach.
Per capita consumption shows a different picture
However, the rankings shift dramatically when considering per capita consumption. The Czech Republic emerges as the undisputed leader, with the average Czech drinking 188.5 litres of this beverage annually, a trend that has continued for three decades. This is partly due to the very affordable ale prices in the country.
Austria follows with 101.2 litres per person, while Poland secures the third spot with 99.6 litres. Germany, perhaps surprisingly, ranks seventh with 93.3 litres. Notably, Namibia, a South African nation, is the only non-European country in the top ten, with its citizens consuming an average of 90.3 litres annually.
Hungary’s drinking habits
Hungary holds its own, ranking 18th globally with a per capita beer consumption of 77.8 litres.
Though Hungarians once consumed over 100 litres per person, placing them in the top 15 around the time of the regime change in 1989-90, the country’s beer culture remains strong. In Latin America, Panama leads with 79 litres per person, while Cambodia is Asia’s top consumer at 72.2 litres.
The history of the gold beverage
The history of the beverage stretches back at least 5,000 years, originating in the Middle East where it became an integral part of early civilizations, Világgazdaság explains. The Sumerians and Egyptians even used it as currency. In medieval Europe, monks perfected the brewing process by introducing hops, laying the foundation for the beer we know and love today.
Watch a video on the history of the alcoholic drink below:
Deloitte conducted a survey covering 24 European countries and 59 cities. According to the report, Budapest experienced the most significant rise in new apartment prices among EU capitals last year, with an increase of 11.2% in Hungarian forints.
Budapest sees highest rise in new apartment prices
According to the report of Telex, Warsaw (9.7%) and Oslo (7.2%) followed behind. No other European capitals saw price increases above 5% in the past year.
When considering prices in euros, Budapest also saw the highest rise.
However, Budapest remains relatively affordable compared to the region, with an average price of EUR 3,260 per square meter. New apartments are more expensive in Prague (EUR 5,153) and Bratislava (EUR 3,884), while Warsaw has lower prices (EUR 3,022).
Paris remains the most expensive capital, with an average price of EUR 14,900 per square meter for new apartments, followed by Munich at EUR 10,900. Copenhagen saw the largest drop in new apartment prices in 2023, down by 7.4%.
The survey also examined London, where central city prices fell by 12.5%. When looking at countries rather than cities, Italy experienced the greatest decrease in new apartment prices. Austria is the most expensive country, with an average price of EUR 4,920 per square meter, followed by Germany (EUR 4,700), France (EUR 4,538), and the Netherlands (EUR 4,266).
In recent years, the gap between Central and Eastern European and Western European apartment prices has narrowed. In 2023, the price of new apartments in Italy fell below the average level of the four Visegrád countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia). Additionally, used apartments in Italy are now cheaper than in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland. Hungary was among the lowest in terms of new apartment construction per capita in the 24 countries surveyed in both 2022 and 2023.
Rental prices in Europe
Deloitte’s Property Index also analysed rental prices: Budapest has the 18th lowest rental cost among 59 European cities, with an average of EUR 11.3 per square meter, similar to Linz, Graz, and Athens. However, it’s worth noting that The Economist reported in February that
renting an apartment in Budapest is the most expensive relative to wages.
The survey also looked at how many years of average gross salary are needed to buy a typical 70-square-meter new apartment. In Hungary, this amount is 10.2 years in 2023, compared to 13.3 years in the Czech Republic. In Poland, the Netherlands, the UK, and Slovenia, it ranges from 6 to 8 years. In Romania and Italy, it’s 5 to 6 years, while in Denmark and Norway, it’s 4.7 and 4.8 years, respectively.
In 2023, mortgage interest rates varied significantly across Europe. Poland had the highest rates at 8.1%, followed by Romania at 7.7% and Hungary at 7.4%. However, Hungary also offered more favourable subsidised loan options, though these often do not reach those who need them the most. The lowest interest rates were found in Belgium (3.33%), Croatia (3.26%), and Spain (3.45%).
Nations in the Carpathian Basin can survive only if they cooperate “as the universal successors of King Saint Stephen”, Hungarian parliament speaker László Kövér said in Velke Kapusany (Nagykapos), in southern Slovakia at a commemoration celebrating Hungary’s statehood on Sunday.
Hungarian parliament speaker talks about cooperation
Speaking at a commemoration in the Slovak town with a sizeable ethnic Hungarian community, Kövér cited milestones of Hungary’s history such as noted the settlement in the Carpathian Basin, the foundation of the Christian state. “Throughout history, every generation of Hungarians wanted to live under its own rules and freedom, and faced attempts by various foreign empires to eliminate that freedom, to chase Hungarians away or exterminate them. But even if the country seemed to be on the brink of annihilation, it had the strength to find the path of survival and start again.”
“Withstanding attacks from the east and the west by empires that finally disappeared in history … Hungary always re-emerged on the foundations of St Stephen,” Kövér said. Referring to the current situation in Europe, the house speaker said: “Private global powers concentrating wealth exceeding that of most states are trying to hold European nation states hostage … the same powers are trying to turn our ideals — peace, democracy, prosperity and a culture based on Christianity — into tools of war, dictatorship, impoverishment and anti-Christianity.”
Hungarian parliament speaker László Kövér said that only those states had a chance to survive against the global private powers that protected their national identity. “There is no nation without the sense of belonging together, and without a nation, nation states do not have the right to exist,” the house speaker said. After the commemoration in a local reformed church, participants laid wreaths at the statue of St. Stephen in the nearby park.
An inspired and ambitious Hungarian man, Dániel Balogh, opened a special Hungarian buffet in Iceland with his partner. They serve Goulash soup and lángos, the latter has a myriad of topping options, including both savoury and sweet choices. The charming eatery is still a family-run business, offering both traditional and new flavours. While many Hungarians visit Lángos Factory, Icelanders also enjoy indulging in the deep-fried dough delicacy!
A dream come true
You must crave a delicious snack after a long hike near an Icelandic glacier. Who would have thought that you could eat a traditional Hungarian lángos in such a setting? HVG reports that Dániel Balogh and his partner opened a special Hungarian buffet in Iceland. Dániel first visited the island inspired by a Colombian colleague from his riverboat job, and started working as a chef in the astonishing country. However, his ambition was always to start his own business, which he achieved three months ago with the launch of Lángos Factory alongside his partner, Sara Ósk Rúnarsdóttir.
Dániel ordered a trailer from Romania last year, had it equipped with furniture and kitchen utensils in Hungary within a week, and shipped it from Amsterdam to Iceland. However, he faced unexpected challenges beyond logistics, such as adapting his lángos recipe to local ingredients, eventually finding that Icelandic lactose-free cheese worked best in place of trappista cheese.
Dániel and his partner introduced a unique offering to Iceland’s street food scene, where fish and chips, pizza, and hot dogs dominate. His Hungarian lángos (deep-fried dough with cold toppings) often confuses first-time diners, some of whom mistake it for pizza. Despite this, Dániel finds that Icelanders’ love for deep-fried food has helped them embrace his cuisine.
Source: Instagram / langos.factory
Hungarian customers are regular
The Hungarian food trailer in Iceland, run by Dániel and Sara, attracts not only locals but also a steady stream of Hungarian customers, with around 2-3 visiting daily. With approximately 1,500 Hungarians living in Iceland, word has spread through Facebook groups, drawing people to this unique dining spot. The eatery operates daily, except during extreme weather, and despite only having summer experience so far, they hope to attract more visitors during winter.
A yummy experience
Their menu, featuring quality ingredients at affordable prices, has received positive feedback so far. A classic cheese and sour cream dish costs 2,100 Icelandic króna (EUR 13.9). However, the options go way beyond the classy cheese and sour cream lángos. For instance, the menu includes traditional, vegan, and langoustine options. Do you have a sweet tooth? No worries, there is a myriad of sweet topping options as well: marshmallows, Nutella, and banana slices. Sounds dreamy, doesn’t it? Dániel and his girlfriend run the business themselves, driving 40 minutes each day to the charming eatery. They find this daily trip a peaceful time to collect their thoughts and prepare for the day ahead.
The murder of children in Southport and the threat of terrorism in Vienna are a “dire warning for Europe”, Bence Rétvári, the parliamentary state secretary of the interior ministry, said in a statement issued by the ministry on Saturday.
“The safety of the public is at grave risk because of migration,” Rétvárisaid, pointing to the cancellation of Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna, “the most liveable city in Europe”, because of the threat of terrorism, and the murder of three young girls and the injury of eleven more people by a migrant youth from an African background in the UK, leading to unrest on the streets there. He also noted that Algerian migrants had recently stabbed to death and beheaded a Spanish man on a street in the centre of Valencia.
Source: Facebook/Rétvári Bence
“Shocking events are taking place on a daily basis from Sweden to Italy that would never have happened without migration,” he said. He added that crimes were being committed not only by those who had recently arrived in Europe, but by the children of migrants, too, “because Europe can’t and doesn’t want to integrate them”, he added.
“Pro-migration politicians still can’t face the reality: they advocate for tolerance and thus sacrifice public safety,” he said.
He reiterated Hungary’s position against illegal migration and for protecting the country’s borders and noted that while Hungary’s crime rate had fallen close to 60pc, the public safety situation in pro-migration countries had deteriorated. While Hungary hosts the matches of Israel’s national football team because of the highest levels of security in Europe, the number of anti-Semitic attacks in pro-migration countries has shot up, he added.
“European citizens can only be safe if there are fundamental changes to the policy of Brussels and the goal becomes stopping migration instead of facilitating it,” he said.
According to a study by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) released in late July, 24.3% of workers in Hungary cannot afford a holiday. This equates to approximately 1.46 million people, an increase of 82,000 from the previous year.
“Holiday poverty” in the EU
Hungary ranks 4th in the EU for “holiday poverty,” with Romania being the worst affected at 35.8%. Cyprus and Greece follow, with 24.9% and 24.8%, respectively. In contrast, Sweden and Finland have the lowest rates, at around 4.7%, Telex reports.
Regionally, Hungary is not alone in its struggles; Bulgaria, Slovakia, and Croatia also report significant proportions of people unable to take a vacation. However, Austria, Slovenia, and the Czech Republic fare much better.
The data highlights a rising trend across the EU, with vacation poverty increasing in almost all member states from 2021 to 2022.
The Hungarian real estate market has experienced a notable revival in 2024, reversing previous years’ downturns. Data from the Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH) shows a 36 percent increase in home sales. With the overall house price index reaching 291 percent of the 2015 base, Hungary leads the EU in housing price growth, highlighting a significant recovery and ongoing expansion in the market.
Hungarian real estate market in recovery
Economxreports that the Hungarian real estate market has shown remarkable signs of recovery in early 2024, following a downturn in previous years. According to the Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH), the number of homes sold increased by 36 percent in the first quarter of the year, reversing a 23 percent decline from the previous year. This resurgence comes with a notable price hike, with existing house prices rising by 5.3 percent and new house prices by 4.6 percent quarterly. The price increase was widespread, except for detached houses in eastern Hungary, where no significant change was observed.
Substantial growth
In 2023, the housing market saw a slower price increase, yet the overall house price index reached 271 percent of the 2015 base. Despite consumer price inflation outpacing nominal house price growth last year, leading to a 9.4 percent decrease in real prices, the first quarter of 2024 marked a significant shift. Real prices of existing and new dwellings were up by 4.0 percent and 3.4 percent quarter-on-quarter, respectively, and rose by 4.4 percent and 10 percent year-on-year. As of early 2024, the real price of existing houses stood at 74 percent above the 2015 base, while new homes were 111 percent higher, highlighting a substantial recovery and growth in the Hungarian real estate market.
Insane price per square metre
In the Hungarian real estate market, new housing prices have surged, increasing threefold since 2015, compared to a doubling in construction costs. In 2023, the average new home price rose to HUF 62 million (EUR 156 thousand) and further increased to HUF 65.8 million (EUR 166 thousand) in early 2024, with the price per square metre nearing HUF 1.2 million (EUR 3,020). Existing dwellings also saw price rises, with the average price reaching HUF 31.4 million (EUR 79 thousand) in early 2024, up from HUF 29.2 million (EUR 74 thousand) in 2023. In Budapest, the average price per square metre for existing apartments increased to HUF 918,000 (EUR 2,310).
Photo: Alpár Kató / Daily News Hungary
One of the biggest growths in Europe
In the first quarter of 2024, the Hungarian real estate market saw significant growth, with the aggregate house price index rising by 5.2 percent. This increase places Hungary at the top among EU countries, with house prices nearly 291 percent above the 2015 base, according to the Central Statistical Office (KSH). Across the EU, the aggregate housing price index stood at 149 percent of the 2015 base, with a modest 0.4 percent quarterly rise. Other countries like Bulgaria and Poland also experienced notable price jumps, while Denmark and France saw declines. Hungary’s domestic price increase of 290.7 percent is unparalleled, with Lithuania (227.7 percent) and the Czech Republic (214.3 percent) trailing behind.
