This is what Hungary wants to do against money laundering
Hungary is one of 17 states to have fully adopted the 10th article of the Warsaw Convention, outlining penalties of legal entities guilty of money laundering, the Council of Europe (CoE) said on Thursday.
In its report on the implementation of the Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the Proceeds from Crime and on the Financing of Terrorism, or the Warsaw Convention, the CoE said that the member states implementing the convention have pledged to enshrine penalties of legal entities guilty of money laundering into law. The punishment should be proportionate, effective and have the effect of a deterrent, the report said.
Hungary has complied with the convention in that respect, the report said, adding that the country should further develop case law in this area.
Besides Hungary, Azerbaijan, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Georgia, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia and Sweden also adopted the 10th article, the report said.
Read also This is what Hungary wants to do against money laundering
The best international restaurants in Budapest — PHOTOS
If you would like to travel but do not have the time or money, there is still a solution. Go to a special restaurant and let the flavours and the atmosphere fly you away. Would you fly to Greece or maybe head to the US or China? Budapest can make every wish come true.
Taverna Dionysos Budapest
This Greek restaurant is located in downtown Budapest.
“The best place for Greek food and Greek hospitality in town,”
is what they write on their Facebook page. From their large selection, you will find everything you want. You can also choose from appetisers, main courses, vegetarian dishes, and, of course, seafood. If you want to eat classic gyros or lamb meal, Dionysos is the right place. Delicious desserts and Greek wines should not be missed. In good weather, you can marvel at the city centre by sitting on the terrace.
Blue Agori
The idea of Blue Agori came from Stravos, a Greek-born living in Hungary. The Blue Agori team has visited Greece several times. In addition, they initially worked with masters of Greek cuisine to ensure the perfect preparation of local specialities.
“The best ingredients for health and deliciousness.”
“All this quickly, at an affordable price, in a modern environment,” says Blue Agori.
Wang Mester Kínai Konyhája
Hungary’s most famous Chinese chef, Wang Qiang, founded the restaurant as the best choice for lovers of Chinese cuisine. He gained his experience right in Beijing, so the authentic experience is guaranteed.
Taste and discover the secrets of Chinese cuisine.
Spicy Fish Budapest
You can find them in both the 10th district and the 8th district. Do not miss the local speciality, Mao Xue Wang, which is made from duck blood, beef tenderloin, and lentil. Because of the huge selection, it is worth coming with a larger company so that, if everyone asks for one thing, you can easily share it.
Buffalo Steak House
Everything you need for a true Wild West American atmosphere, you can find at the Buffalo Steak House. Buffalo is characterised by large portions, giant meats, and delicious sauces. Not only the food but also the equipment make sure you really feel like you are eating in the US.
Dallas Restaurant
Also a representative of American cuisine is the Dallas restaurant. The restaurant in Óbuda has everything American, like hot dogs, snacks, burgers, and steaks. Dallas also puts a lot of emphasis on creating the atmosphere. When you enter, you feel like you are at an American buffet known from Hollywood movies. Chequered floors, swing doors, bar stools, billboards, and neon lights are all waiting for you.
Worrying labour shortage in Hungarian hospitality industry, will employees return?
40-50 thousand people left the hospitality sector, and they do not plan to return, ever. This will affect tourism in great ways, especially regarding the prices. Data from the Central Statistical Office (KSH) shows that 193,000 people worked in hospitality in 2019. In 2020, this number dropped below 177,000.
In Hungary
The coronavirus was a huge hit to the sectors of tourism and hospitality. In a former article in June, we reported that job applicants with modest skills could get the jobs for which there had been competition 5 years before. Another surprising information was that managers and salespeople had to take up cleaning chores because of labour shortage.
In August, Daily News Hungary wrote that labour shortage remained one of the biggest problems. Chefs and waiters were in demand, guests became fewer in number, and employers tried to make up for the labour shortage by employing student workers. Meanwhile, labour became 20% more expensive, and raw materials became 10% pricier. In September, we brought some bad news. One of Budapest’s oldest Hungarian restaurants closed after nearly 140 years. Read about the unfortunate event HERE.
Labour shortage seems to be worsening by the day, and no country is an exception.
Shocking numbers – Hungarian teachers’ salaries raise concerns
Is fuel more expensive in Hungary than the EU average?
Globally
Napi.hu writes that in the United States, 892,000 people quit their jobs. The majority of them worked in hospitality. In Italy, the labour shortage in the sector was estimated to be 10%. 42% of companies that operate hotels and hospitality facilities were concerned about labour shortages in Germany. In Greece, 20% of former employees left their jobs. The vast majority of them never want to return to their former positions.
Hungarian labour shortage has its negative consequences as well.
László Kovács, the President of the Hungarian Catering Industry Association, said that 40-50 thousand people were missing from hospitality, and most of them never plan to return. There are people who went back to their former jobs, but many people found jobs in other fields. Some of them work in commerce or construction, but IT was also an attractive career option for them. Former hospitality employees, in some cases, are willing to earn less money at a more stable job.
Many applicants for hospitality jobs now have unrealistic expectations when negotiating their wages. Raw materials and wages remain the same as in the summer or will possibly become more expensive.
Read alsoGreat news for travellers! Dual branded hotel opens in Budapest
Hungary’s House Speaker: Common values unite Europe’s citizens
When discussing Europe’s future it is worth bearing in mind that, thanks to their common values, the bloc’s citizens are more united than divided, László Kövér, Hungary’s Speaker of Parliament, told a conference of speakers of the Council of Europe in Athens on Friday.
Speaking on day two of a meeting organised by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Kövér said in his speech that national identities and the mother tongue formed the basis of “our European identity” and that Europe’s strength derived from national parliamentarism and the successful cooperation of nations, as well as solidarity with national minorities.
He warned that European citizens felt their opinions no longer mattered and that confidence in European Union institutions as well as national democratic institutions was “dangerously waning”, adding that European democracies could be revitalised only if citizens had a say on real issues, starting from the expression of opinion at the national level.
We do not want to live in a European empire, says Hungarian justice minister
“We in Hungary have been courageous enough to ask people about migration issues … and key issues regarding epidemic management through a new form of direct democracy,” Kövér said, adding that the opinions expressed in the National Consultation survey had been incorporated into parliamentary debate and government policy.
Kövér noted regional cooperation between the Visegrád countries (V4), which he said shared a history, traditions, culture and values.
Hungarians, he added, were lucky to live with 13 national minorities in Hungary, adding that the Fundamental Law describes minorities as elements that forge the state. They are represented at both municipal and parliamentary levels, he added.
Government: Brussels wants to build an empire!
Referring to “indigenous national minorities in Europe”, he said Hungary believed in the right to prosper in one’s homeland while preserving national identity.
Kövér also said Hungary remained committed to sustainable development, noting that Hungary’s parliament operates the National Council for Sustainable Development, which he said was “almost unique” among the world’s parliaments”.
Every two years, the council examines the country in terms of its environmental, economic and social sustainability, and he pledged Hungary’s readiness to share its related experiences.
Meanwhile, the speaker also noted a statement by the Visegrád Group and Western Balkan countries lined up to join the European Union urging the inclusion of candidate countries in the EU conference on the future of Europe.
The heads of Council of Europe national parliaments were in agreement, he added, that Europe was a broader concept than the EU, so non-EU European countries should be given the opportunity to contribute to shaping a common European future.
Read alsoSzijjártó: Poland attacked for successful patriotic policies
Hungarian FM Péter Szijjártó: Monopolising democracy is ‘antidemocratic’
Representatives of liberal democracies are trying to “monopolise” the concept of democracy, a “thoroughly antidemocratic approach”, Péter Szijjártó, Hungary’s foreign minister, told a panel discussion at the Athens Democracy Forum on Friday.
All countries are democratic as long as its people can decide their and their nation’s fate, a statement by the foreign ministry cited Szijjártó as saying. “Democracy needs no further qualification,” he said.
Regarding the rule of law in Hungary, Szijjártó said “lectures and criticism rooted solely in the fact that we have a conservative, patriotic, Christian Democratic government in power.”
“Viktor Orbán is the most democratic leader in Europe,” he said.
Hungarian foreign policy is driven by representing national interests, with the government aiming to forge pragmatic cooperations without interfering with other countries’ domestic affairs, Szijjártó said. Political stability is instrumental in that process, as it enables effective actions and representing national interests, he said.
Hungarian foreign minister: ‘Europe must return to classical values’
In the discussion panel also attended by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, a Belarussian opposition leader, Szijjártó said the European Union’s foreign policy toolbox has proven to have limited success in similar crises.
He called for a thorough discussion on the effectivity of sanctions. Threatening with sanctions will have little effect if the sanctions themselves are ineffective, he said.
Sanctions may, in fact, be “hypocritical while larger member states conclude lucrative deals with countries they continue to lambast loudly,” Szijjártó said, citing China as an example, where certain officials are facing restrictions while China was the EU’s largest trading partner last year.
Tsikhanouskaya said EU sanctions were the bloc’s only means to place pressure on Belarus. Responding a question, she said she saw all EU member states as democracies.
Read alsoMinister in Athens: borders should be zones of fences and armed forces!
Minister in Athens: borders should be zones of fences and armed forces!
No effort should be spared to prevent a new wave of migration, all the more so because it would not only carry security and civilisational risks but contribute to the spread of the pandemic, too, Péter Szijjártó, Hungary’s minister of foreign affairs and trade, said in Athens on Friday.
The European Union is going to face tough challenges as the international forces’ failure in Afghanistan will trigger a massive wave of migration, Szijjarto told a press conference after talks with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias. The minister stressed the need to avoid the mistakes committed in 2015 but noted that some statements by west European leaders can once again be interpreted as invitations. The two governments agree that the waves of migration should be halted as far from Europe’s borders as possible, he said, adding that migration policies should focus on the defence of borders.
“NGOs have no business along the borders, which should rather be zones of fences and armed forces,”
the minister said. Although Hungary concluded a long-term gas purchase agreement earlier this week, its government continues looking for opportunities to involve further import sources, Szijjártó said. Hungary has an interest in extracting gas fields in Israel and Cyprus, and establishing a new supply route between the Greek LNG terminals and central Europe, he added.
Szijjártó said that Hungarian-Greek trade turnover increased by 25 percent this year, and Hungary’s Eximbank had opened a 110 million euro credit line to boost trade links. The two sides confirmed their commitment to protecting Christian communities. Further, Hungary is prepared to help restore Greek churches damaged by recent wildfires, Szijjártó said.
Szijjártó said that Hungarian-Greek trade turnover increased by 25 percent this year, and Hungary’s Eximbank had opened a 110 million euro credit line to boost trade links. The two sides confirmed their commitment to protecting Christian communities. Further, Hungary is prepared to help restore Greek churches damaged by recent wildfires, Szijjártó said.
Read alsoPM Orbán: Hungary received very little money from Brussels for border protection
The special Greek village of Balatonfüred could be demolished! – VIDEO
The district in Balatonfüred where the Greek village was built got a new category, which changes the village’s purpose and how it can be used.
The district was put into a new category; therefore, 50% of the area will become a small-town residential area, and 50% will become a public park. – writes epiteszforum.hu. Currently, 30% of the place can be used for construction, which will drop to 10%. This shortage, however, does not exclude the opportunity to add buildings for housing.
Buildings would also be constructed in the area, creating a total of 90 housing facilities.
However, tearing down the existing buildings is a complicated matter. The city council owns 41% of a building with many apartments, but there are 80 owners in total. In order to make changes, and be able to deconstruct the unwanted buildings, all of the owners have to agree. Owners of the entertainment centre are willing to reach an agreement, but bringing the negotiations to a positive outcome with the other owners and residents might be more demanding.
The most beautiful Art Noveau buildings in Hungary – PHOTOS!
The Greek village is called the disgrace of the city.
Balatonfured.hu, the city’s official website, writes that the Greek village is architecturally unacceptable, and it does not serve the purpose of why it was originally built. The four hectares area is like a ghost town for most of the year.
Construction started in 1993, and the site was unfinished for years. Then the original purpose and how the venue can be used was reconsidered, as it did not meet the original expectations. The area first became Annagora Park, then Sundance Park, and later SunCity. The new aim was to organise parties and provide accommodation in the Greek village, but this has been causing conflict in the city for the past few years.
Read alsoTwo Hungarian hot springs are among the best in Europe – Lonely Planet
Epiteszforum.hu quoted from a local journalist’s opinion piece: “ Let’s be honest: people simply don’t want it. Neither strangers nor locals. It is foreign to us. We don’t know what to do with it. The style is not ours. This could be called provincialism, but this is what the story of the Greek village has justified so far.”
Scandal at Budapest Airport, passengers got violent!
On 6 August 2021, a WizzAir aeroplane could not take off due to the weather in Santorini, Greece. This affected 200 passengers travelling to Budapest.
A strong transverse wind in Santorini made it impossible for pilots to transport the passengers safely. Due to this, Hungarian tourists had to spend one more day in Greece. WizzAir made a statement that passengers will get a refund for the extra fees paid for their accommodation if they ask for it, wrote 24.hu.
The airline advised the passengers to look for accommodation as many planes could not take off due to the weather, and accommodation became less and less available. In the case passengers needed help with booking hotels and other types of accommodation, the company helped them find available spots.
Another plane had to stay in Budapest where pilots and passengers could not take off as a result of the plane that had to stay in Greece, wrote Telex.
WizzAir stated that the situation was further aggravated by the fact that several of the passengers of the plane stuck in Budapest became verbally and physically violent during the wait, thus endangering the safety of the trip. The airline also expressed that they have zero tolerance for all kinds of aggressive behaviour, and the safety of their passengers, crew and staff remains the most important.
The flight to Santorini finally took off at 12:30 on Saturday.
Tragedy in Greece: Hungarian man drowned, his daughter (13) watched it
A 53-year-old Hungarian man drowned in Sarti, a small village on the Halkidiki peninsula in Greece. He went swimming in the stormy sea but could not get out.
Michalis Spanos, the mayor of the small Greek village, told Thestival, a local newspaper, that a lifeguard and a doctor tried to save his life for 40 minutes, but all their efforts were futile, blikk.hu reported.
The 13-year-old daughter of the Hungarian man transporting tourists watched the events. According to the Greek magazine,
local authorities already got in touch with the Hungarian consulate to help the girl travel back home as soon as possible.
Concerning the others on the tourist bus, another driver will escort them home. According to the paper, all the travellers are in shock because they liked the driver, and they even organised a small surprise party for his birthday.
The mayor said that the sea was stormy that day, and two other people needed to be rescued, with an ambulance giving them oxygen. He added that the driver ate before he went swimming.
Tragedy in Budapest: a family of 4 died together
Meanwhile, a Hungarian man was able to bring back to life his no-longer-breathing son, whom he found on the floor of their house late Thursday night. He called the ambulance and followed the instructions the backup manager told him on the phone. Fortunately, the ambulance arrived in 10 minutes and continued the fight for the son’s life, ripost.hu said.
Thanks to the heart massage done in time by the father, the man survived and was transferred to the local hospital in a stable condition.
Featured image: illustration
Want to travel abroad from Hungary? – Here is everything you need to know
The coronavirus pandemic has made international travel almost impossible last year, and since then, nothing has really returned to normal. It is hard to navigate through all the information out there, so we try to keep you updated with as much information as we can.
If you would like to travel from Hungary abroad, you can easily do so to 16 other countries with which Hungary has a bilateral agreement, that is, if you have a Hungarian immunity certificate.
You can learn more about the Hungarian immunity certificate HERE. You can check out all the countries that recognise the Hungarian immunity certificate – at the time of writing this article – and it makes you exempt from most if not all travel restrictions in THIS article.
Also, the testing phase of the coronavirus passport accepted by all European Union countries has started in Hungary. The unified passport will allow for the free movement of European citizens once again and will launch by July 1st. Although keep in mind that it only works if you were inoculated with vaccines that the European Medicines Agency accepts, which are currently the Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Janssen vaccines)
But if you would like to travel somewhere before that or have been inoculated with a different vaccine, luckily for you, Forbes.hu have created a detailed list of restrictions in place for the most popular destinations from Hungary.
Everything you need to know about the EU Covid certificate!
Breaking – Important change to come to the Hungarian immunity certificate
Almost all other countries must have some kind of additional restriction in place. It is best that you also contact either your embassy in the country you would like to travel to or any relevant authorities of the target country.
Austria
If you would like to go to Austria, you should either have:
- An antigen test no older than 24 hours
- A PCR test no older than 72 hours
- An antibody test no older than 3 months
- A certificate from a doctor if you recovered from the coronavirus within the last 6 months
- If you were vaccinated with Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Janssen, Moderna or Sinopharm (22 days after the first jab – for 3 months; or 9 months after the second jab or the first in case of a one-dose vaccine)
Do I need to register beforehand?
If you have one of the above, you do not need to register since June 10.
Do I need to wear a mask?
You must wear an FFP2 or better mask in stores and on public transportation.
Greece
If you would like to go to Greece, you should either have:
- A PCR test no older than 72 hours
- 14 days after the final vaccination of these vaccines: Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Janssen, Sinovac, Sputnik V, Sinopharm
- If you have recovered from the coronavirus, with a PCR or rapid antigen test that is more than two months but no more than 9 months old
Do I need to register beforehand?
If you are entering Greece, you need to register at least 24 hours before you do so. There is an English Passenger Locator Form which you need to fill out. If you do so, you will get a QR-code that is scanned at the border.
Do I need to wear a mask?
Yes. Both indoors and outdoors. If there are any passengers in a car other than the driver, you also need to wear a mask.
Croatia
If you would like to go to Croatia, you should either have:
- A PCR test no older than 72 hours
- A negative antigen test no older than 48 hours
- If you have recovered from the virus, a certificate from a doctor or a positive PCR or antigen test no older than 180 days, but issued at least 11 days or more before travelling ( in this case, positive antibody results and the Hungarian certificate if you have recovered from the virus is not accepted)
- A Hungarian immunity certificate and after you received both doses of the vaccine or 14 days after the one-dose Janssen vaccine
- If someone has recovered from the virus and have received the first dose of a vaccine within the last six months, you can travel without any tests for 6 months after the first dose
- If 22 days have passed since you received the first dose of Pfizer or Moderna or Sputnik V, but no more than 42 days pass, or in the case of AstraZeneca, 22 days after the first dose but no more than 84 days. ( In the case of Sinopharm, you can only travel if you have received both jabs)
Do I need to register beforehand?
At the border, you have to declare how long do you plan to stay in the country, what places you will visit and the actual address of your accommodation. There is also a form that you can fill out beforehand.
Do I need to wear a mask?
It is mandatory to wear a mask on public transportation, in administrative offices, in shops, banks, post offices, health care facilities, buildings of educational institutions and buildings of companies providing services.
Orbán’s secret plan against the virus
Covid-19 status in Hungary – is it over?
Germany
You can currently travel to Germany from Hungary without any restriction; however, if you are travelling by plane, you need either of the following:
- An antigen test no older than 48 hours
- A test based on nucleic acid detection that is no older than 72 hours (PCR, LAMP, TMA)
- At least 14 days have passed after the second dose of any vaccine accepted by the German PEI Institute (Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Janssen)
- If you have recovered from the coronavirus, you need a positive PCR test older than 28 days but no older than 6 months
Do I need to register beforehand?
There is no need for registration.
Do I need to wear a mask?
In administrative offices, in stores and on public transportation, it is mandatory to wear a mask.
Italy
If you would like to go to Italy before the 31st of July:
- You need a PCR test conducted within 48 hours, regardless of any circumstances ( you will need to be quarantined for 10 days if you have no test results)
Do I need to register beforehand?
Similar to Greece, you need to register online at the Passenger Locator Form.
Do I need to wear a mask?
Mask wearing is mandatory both indoors and outdoors.
Slovenia
If you would like to go to Slovenia, you should either have:
- A negative PCR or antigen test no older than 48 hours
- A Hungarian immunity certificate
If you do not have a Hungarian immunity certificate, but you can prove either of the following:
- You received the second dose of Pfizer at least 7 days prior
- You received the Janssen vaccine or the second dose of Moderna, Sputnik V, Coronavac or Sinopharm vaccines at least 14 days prior
- You received the first dose of AstraZeneca or Covishield at least 21 days prior
Do I need to register beforehand?
If you are staying for more than 3 days, then yes, but some accommodations will arrange that for you.
Do I need to wear a mask?
It is mandatory to wear one indoors.
Read alsoAll the beaches in Hungary you can enjoy without an immunity certificate
New summer destinations announced from Hungary!
Wizz Air has just announced a new destination in Greece, extending its list to 10 airports.
Summer is not some weeks away; it is here, and it will be much easier and more open than the last one. The vaccination process helped countries to reopen as fast as possible. Some of them are welcoming tourists earlier than others, mainly the most popular holiday destinations that suffered greatly from last year’s lockdown. Greece is one of them, who is ready to use the Covid pass before July in order to save this summer.
In accordance with Greece’s motivation to welcome tourists, Wizz Air is extending its list of destinations in the country.
Starting from the middle of this summer, the island of Kos will be directly available from Budapest.
Back in March, the airline announced that it would include the city of Chania, situated on the island of Crete. The island of Kos will join nine other Greek destinations, such as Athens or Santorini, the company revealed to airpotal.hu.
The first flight to the city of Kos from Budapest will leave on July 16.
After that day, there will be regular flights twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays. Tickets are extremely affordable: they start at 8,990 forints (25 euros) for a one-way flight.
As the official announcement of the flight company also points out, the island of Kos is not only a breathtaking scene to spend a perfect holiday at but also full of history. From the tree of Hippocrates, through the Temple of Aphrodite, to the locals’ favourite taverns offering many unforgettable experiences, it is the best location to spend either a shorter trip or a much longer, relaxing vacation. In the case you are planning to stay longer than a couple of days, it is absolutely worth taking a short detour to the island of Rhodos, another Wizz Air destination.
Here are all the cities available from Budapest with a Wizz Air flight: Athens, Chania, Corfu, Heraklion, Kos, Mykonos, Rhodes, Santorini, Thessaloniki, Zakynthos.
Apart from Wizz Air, Ryanair also offers many flights directly from Budapest to several Greek cities. Athens, Chania, Corfu, Mykonos, Preveza – Aktion, Rhodes, Thessaloniki, and Zakynthos are all directly available from Budapest.
Greece introduced a vaccination certificate system for travellers on Tuesday, weeks ahead of the July 1 rollout of the program across the European Union.
The certificates are being issued to people who are fully vaccinated, as well as to those who have already contracted the virus and developed antibodies. In every case, you need to fill in a Passenger Locator Form, preferably before boarding the plane.
Here is all the information you need to know about travelling to Greece.
Read alsoEuropean Commission recommends these if vaccinated citizens want to travel
Greece ready to use COVID-19 pass before July to save summer
Greece is ready to use a COVID-19 travel certificate before its EU-wide launch on July 1 to attract foreign travellers and save its tourism sector from a second summer lost to the coronavirus.
Greece was one of the early advocates of a certificate that would ease European Union travel curbs and help pull the country’s economy from recession by lifting tourism revenues.
The European Council and parliament last week reached a deal on the digital green certificate following a rapid pick-up of vaccinations allowing widespread lifting of coronavirus curbs.
The European Parliament is expected to pass a law in the week from June 7 and more than a dozen EU countries, including France and Spain, have agreed to test the system before a launch on July 1.
The certificate would show if a person had received a vaccine, had a recent negative test or had immunity based on recovery.
“It is very, very simple. Essentially, it includes all the information that a member-state would need to welcome a traveller without imposing additional restrictions,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said at a presentation of the pass on Friday.
“Greece is ready to launch this digital certificate earlier than July 1st,”
he said, calling on EU countries to ensure they stick to the deadlines and facilitate travel over the summer.
The free certificate will take the form of a QR code on a smartphone or paper, letting authorities determine the status of a visitor based on records in their home EU country.
Greece, which relies on tourism for a fifth of its economy, saw just seven million tourists and 4 billion euros in revenues in 2020, down from a record 33 million visitors and 18 billion euros in revenues in 2019. It expects tourist arrivals this year to reach half the levels seen in 2019.
Hungarian vaccine certificate available in English to travel
Travelling abroad from Hungary after being vaccinated has just become more manageable.
When, where and how to travel internationally is one of the most important questions of the past weeks and months. One crucial aspect is receiving your immunity certificate after being inoculated. There is no unilateral European decision among EU countries so far; however, Hungary has already signed many bilateral decisions with countries to accept each other’s plastic card mutually.
Eight countries accept the Hungarian immunity certificate
The National Public Health Centre provided turizmus.hu with new and relevant information regarding the issue. As English is an official language of the EU that practically everyone speaks, all countries ask for documentation proving the vaccination in English, apart from the countries’ own language. This document so far was only issued in Hungarian. Starting from today, it will be given by the doctor who vaccinates you in English.
In case you already received your jabs, you need to ask for it from your family doctor or the vaccination centre,
since it needs to be authenticated by the vaccinating doctor. The empty document itself is available at most vaccination centres and will soon be downloadable from the koronavirus.gov.hu website or by clicking on this link. No further costs have to be paid.
This document will contain the type of the vaccine, its serial number and the dates of the two jabs, apart from all personal information. It will be given and validated by the doctor who vaccinates you, based on the Hungarian document.
It is a crucial document for anyone who would like to go on a holiday or simply travel abroad to visit friends or family, since
many countries already offer free entry without a PCR test and quarantine for those who have this document in their possession.
It varies by country, however, whether they let you enter freely after only receiving the first or both jabs. Nevertheless, the date of the vaccination and the type of vaccine need to be included in every case.
The beautiful Greece, for instance, does accept all types of vaccines,
however, 14 days need to pass after receiving the second dose. As a further help, they offer the possibility to prove it in 6 languages: English, Spanish, French, Italian, German or Russian.
This means that the Hungarian immunity certificate (the plastic card), since it does not include the name of the vaccine and the date of the second dose, is not enough.
Read alsoLet’s go to Budapest’s Lupa beach without the immunity certificate!
Greece formally opens to tourists
Greece formally opened to visitors on Saturday, kicking off a summer season it hopes will resurrect its vital tourism industry battered by the coronavirus pandemic. After months of lockdown restrictions, Greece also opened its museums and famed archaeological sites, including the ancient Acropolis, this week.
“I feel really alive and good because it has been such a hard and long year because of COVID,” said Victoria Sanchez, a 22-year-old student on holiday from the Czech Republic. “I feel again alive,” she said, as she strolled near the Roman Agora in downtown Athens.
As of Saturday,
foreign tourists will be allowed in Greece if they have been vaccinated or can show negative COVID-19 test results.
Travel between regions, including to the islands, will also be allowed for those with negative tests or vaccinations.
“I’m finally here,” said Rebecca, a tourist in Athens from Florida, who declined to give her last name.
“I’ve been waiting two years – two years with the COVID.”
Greece has been rolling out vaccines to its islands and hopes to vaccinate most of them by the end of June. The government says vaccines and rapid testing, as well as warmer weather allowing outdoor activities mean visitors can travel safely.
As the pandemic brought international travel to a halt in 2020, Greece suffered its worst year for tourism on record, with 7 million visitors compared with a record 33 million in 2019. Tourist revenues tumbled to 4 billion euros ($4.9 billion) from 18 billion euros.
- Breaking – Let’s go to Budapest’s Lupa beach without the immunity certificate!
- Eight countries accept the Hungarian immunity certificate
This year, it is aiming for 40% of 2019 levels. On the Aegean island of Mykonos, one flight was given a water salute upon landing.
Corfu, in the Ionian sea, welcomed visitors from Germany and France.
“We are so happy. I’m happy to be here,” said Pierre-Olivier Garcia, soon after arriving on the island. Greeks also welcomed the lifting of lockdown measures, with scores of people leaving for the islands or holiday homes on the mainland on Saturday.
“The first weekend of freedom,” Alpha TV proclaimed during a broadcast from the busy port of Piraeus. Greece fared better than much of Europe during the first wave of the pandemic, but rising infections later in 2020 forced it to impose several lockdowns to protect its struggling health system.
A country of 11 million, it has recorded 373,881 infections and 11,322 deaths.
Greece kicks off the formal start of its tourist season
Greece kicked off the formal start of its tourist season, announcing a multimillion euro promotional campaign on Thursday aimed at saving its most important economic sector from a second summer lost to the coronavirus.
“We are opening our tourist industry to the world,” Tourism Minister Haris Theoharis said at an outdoor news conference held in front of the spectacular backdrop of the Temple of Poseidon on Cape Sounion outside Athens.
A series of promotional videos telling stressed out British office workers and others in need of a break that “All you want is Greece” will be shown in key markets, vaunting the country’s beaches, historical sites and tavernas.
The summer will be vital for Greece’s chances of bringing its economy out of the coronavirus crisis in manageable shape following an 8 percent fall in GDP last year as coronavirus restrictions stifled the vital tourist sector.
Tourists from countries in the European Union as well as others including Britain, the United States and Israel, will be allowed to visit as long as they have been vaccinated or can show negative COVID-19 test results.
The sector, which accounts for about a fifth of Greek output and employs one in five workers, suffered the most severe plunge on record last year, seeing revenues drop to 4 billion euros, less than a quarter of the 18 billion achieved in 2019.
Theoharis, back after a series of foreign visits to promote Greece, refused to set a target for tourist revenues, saying only “It will be better than last year”.
Travellers returning to Germany and Britain still have to quarantine, meaning visitor numbers from two of Greece’s key markets are likely to be limited for the moment. But Theoharis said this week he was optimistic Britain would put Greece on its “green list” soon.
Greece came through the first wave of the pandemic last year in comparatively better shape than many other European countries despite a health service weakened by years of under investment during the financial crisis.
It suffered badly in the second stage, shutting down much of the economy towards the end of last year as case numbers surged and hospitals came under strain. But the government says that vaccinations, mass testing and sunny outdoor weather will allow tourists to come safely.
Read alsoSummer is coming – Greece reopened beaches today!
EU: Greece must stop migrant pushbacks
Europe’s top human rights watchdog has urged Greece to end pushbacks of asylum-seekers on its borders, a practice that Athens denies carrying out.
In a letter to Greek ministers dated May 3 and published on Wednesday, the Council of Europe’s Human Rights Commissioner said there had been “numerous credible allegations” since at least 2017 of asylum-seekers illegally returned to Turkey or left adrift at sea but that Athens had simply dismissed them.
UNHCR, the United Nations’ refugee agency, has also gathered information pointing to several dozen pushbacks since January 2020, said the letter from Commissioner Dunja Mijatovic.
“I urge you (Greece) to put an end to these practices and to ensure that independent and effective investigations are carried out into all allegations of pushbacks and of ill-treatment by members of security forces,”
Mijatovic said.
The Council of Europe is guardian of the European Convention on Human Rights and creator of the European Court of Human Rights. In a response also published by Mijatovic’s office, Greece said it had investigated the allegations and
found them “largely unsubstantiated”.
“The actions taken by the Greek authorities, at our sea borders, are being carried out in full compliance with the country’s international obligations,” Greek ministers were quoted as saying in their response to the Council.
They said Greece had rescued thousands of people since the start of Europe’s migrant crisis in 2015 and officers had to do their job “against the backdrop of an unfavourable environment of intended misleading information emanating in most cases from the smugglers’ networks”.
Mijatovic also said that
living conditions in Greece’s overcrowded island camps remained “substandard”.
Speaking to Reuters, she cited the case of a 28-year-old Somali man on the island of Chios last week who had died of a pulmonary condition and whose body was marked by suspected rat bites.
“This is a tragic illustration of the horrific conditions in which thousands of people have been living for years on the Greek Aegean islands,” Mijatovic said.
Everything you need to know about travelling to and from Hungary
There have been many uncertainties since the coronavirus struck the world last year. Since then, many countries and pharmaceutical corporations have developed several types of vaccines to combat the coronavirus epidemic. Unfortunately, there are still some things that are uncertain, and so there can be a great deal of confusion between different countries’ restrictions. In this article, we would like to shed some light on what you might need to keep in mind when travelling to Hungary or other European countries from Hungary.
Let us start with the current restrictions concerning Hungary. After the vaccination programme reached 4 million inoculated people, the country had its largest reopening for a long time.
- The curfew was pushed back to midnight.
- Stores can be open until 11 pm.
- Services and the outside areas of catering units are available for everyone.
- With an immunity certificate, you can go to the inside areas of catering units as well as visit recreational facilities (zoos, wildlife parks, theatres, cinemas, baths, etc.)
- Gyms can only be used by people with an immunity certificate or by an athlete certificate
You can read about the immunity certificate in more detail HERE, and you can find out the latest information concerning foreigners’ vaccination and certificates HERE.
There have been talks about a universal European Green Card that would confirm people’s inoculation, prior virus infection or test results so that those people can be exempt from certain restrictions when travelling between EU or Schengen countries.
According to Hvg, as it currently stands, the earliest this card can be expected to launch is the 21st of June, but due to diplomatic issues and disagreements about vaccines, this might be heavily delayed.
The current way to go, it seems, are bilateral agreements. This means that two countries agree with the other, independent of the EU, that they will accept each other’s certificates for vaccination, prior infection and negative results. Hungary has currently six such agreements:
- Serbia
- Slovenia
- Montenegro
- Bahrein
- Turkey
- Greece (2 weeks after the second jab)
Now, how can you travel to other countries from Hungary? This is the tricky part. There is no established basic system in the EU, and every country can decide on their own restrictions. According to Hvg, most countries, however, use the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control’s system. It has four levels: green, orange, red, and dark red.
Brussel’s main view is that EU countries should lift travel restrictions for those who come from regions with the green classification.
In Europe it is Finland and Norway, but there are some non-EU countries which have similar classification:
- Australia
- New-Zealand
- Ruanda
- Singapore
- South-Korea
- Thailand
- China, Hongkong, Macao (in case of reciprocation)
But again, using this system is not mandatory; Hungary, for example, does not use it, which can really complicate things, especially because Hungary is in the red classification, which means that travel restrictions are in effect if you would like to visit other countries from Hungary.
What can you do then to know what restrictions are in effect and where? Well, it is tough to say since there is no consensus on things.
The major things to look out for are the following:
- Is there any required quarantine, and if so, for how many days?
- What is the age of exemption?
- Is a negative test required beforehand?
- Is there any unique registration platform for travelling?
Hvg also suggests checking border crossings, as you may not pass at certain checkpoints. Public transportation might have a reduced schedule or other restrictions. And also, flight tickets are not necessarily a guarantee that the flight will not be cancelled.
Also keep in mind that some countries require different time periods to pass after receiving each vaccine.
Unfortunately, in this sense, the Hungarian certificate is not the best, as the date of complete inoculation is not printed on the card, nor the type of the vaccine. As for the EMA accepting certain vaccines, that might not be an issue. Recently, it accepted the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine, which many countries did not seem to trust at first.
Tourist attractions might also have certain restrictions, so it is best to check before planning your travel.
Most countries require people to wear masks (some even the type: FFP2) at least indoors, and keeping the proper distance is also a widespread requirement.
For the best site to gather some information about the travel restrictions in the EU, you should visit Re-open EU, where you can find the latest news in a plethora of languages. A good source of information would be your country’s embassy in your destination or the target country’s government website.
Read alsoWhat would happen if you were to forge an immunity certificate? – Updated
Summer is coming – Greece reopened beaches today!
With widely spaced sun loungers and regular disinfections, Greece reopened its organised beaches on Saturday as the popular Mediterranean holiday destination eases COVID-19 curbs in preparation for the return of foreign visitors next week.
Tourism accounts for about a fifth of Greece’s economy and jobs, and – after the worst year on record for the industry last year – the country can ill afford another lost summer.
“We’re pinning our hopes on tourism,”
said Nikos Venieris, who manages a sandy beach in the seafront suburb of Alimos, just outside the capital, Athens, where social distancing measures will remain in place.
“We’re one of the places along the Athens riviera … that receives many tourists so the number of visitors from abroad will play a big role in our finances,” he added. Under current measures, beach managers like Venieris will have to place umbrellas at least four metres (13 feet), carry out regular disinfections and test beach bar employees and other staff for COVID-19.
Greece fared well in keeping the first wave of the pandemic under control last year but a resurgence in cases pushed health services to the limit and prompted authorities to impose a second lockdown in November.
As infections have fallen and vaccinations gathered pace, authorities have steadily eased restrictions, opening bars and restaurants earlier this week.
On Friday, they announced that museums would reopen next week before the
lifting of travel restrictions on vaccinated foreign visitors on May 15.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has said a combination of widespread testing, immunisation, and the fact that many activities would take place outdoors gave authorities confidence that tourists would be able to visit safely.
For Greek beach lovers, Saturday’s reopening of the country’s largest beaches was a chance to let off steam after months of lockdown.
“We’ve been longing for this for six months now, because we’re winter swimmers and we’ve really missed it,” said Spiros Linardos, a pensioner, reclining on a sun lounger at Alimos.