Collapsing Schengen: strict control at Hungarian Schengen border remains in effect longer
It has become official: Slovenia’s reestablished border control on the Hungarian-Slovenian border will remain in effect longer than thought before.
According to portfolio.hu, the Slovenian government decided on their Friday session to keep strict border control in effect on the Croatian and Hungarian border. Hungary’s Western neighbour reestablished control on 21 October for only ten days, which can be extended for a maximum of two months. The new deadline is 19 November. In practice, that means strict border control will be in effect on the Slovenian-Hungarian border for at least one month.
The Ljubljana government explained that the reason behind the drastic measure is the Middle Eastern and Ukrainian security situation. They believe the ongoing wars in the two regions can destabilise safety and public order in the European Union. Another pack of arguments include the terror attacks committed recently in some Western European countries.
Third-country citizens in trouble
On 2 November, the Croatian, Italian and Slovenian foreign affairs ministers will meet to discuss the topic of border control in Triest, Italy. Italy informed its neighbours before that they would keep strict border control on the Slovenian-Italian border during winter.
Slovenia created 14 checkpoints on their Croatian and Hungarian borders. 12 is between Slovenia and Croatia, while two are on the 102 km-long Hungarian-Slovenian border.
EU citizens may use all border crossings. However, third-country nationals can only enter Slovenia legally via those 14 checkpoints.
We wrote HERE that Slovakia also reestablished border control on the Slovakian-Hungarian border in early October. Before, they sent 500 soldiers to the border to help it protect against illegal migrants. HERE you may read how many illegal migrants tried to break through Hungary’s Southern border.
Missing person: this foreign man was last seen in Hungary – UPDATE
UPDATE
We are delighted that family members have reported that they have found the man they thought was lost.
One of our readers described what happened:
“Out of concern and after several days of searching, I am writing to you with a request to publish information about the missing person Emir Ćeman. He left home, Slovenia Ljubljana, on Friday 13 October 2023, and took a train to Romania. He was stopped at the Hungarian-Romanian border and prevented from crossing due to the invalidity of his identity document. On 14 October 2023, the mother received a message stating that he was returning to Budapest.
The last time we got a short answer on 15/10/2023 via the Facebook chat room, Messenger, where it is not clear whether he was sent home or not, since then unfortunately we have had no information about him. He is listed as a missing person on the Slovenian Police website, as well there is a post from yesterday on my profile, where a group of people have already shared the information.
We waited for quite some time and left room for the possible return of the Emir, but now the worry is too great, despite this, we maintain a good mood.”
If you have seen this young man, notify the family or the police.
- Read also: End of Schengen? Another neighbouring country introduced border control from this midnight
End of Schengen? Another neighbouring country introduced border control from this midnight
The border control on the Slovenian-Hungarian border entered into effect this midnight and will last for at least ten days. That is what the Hungarian News Agency (MTI) wrote based on the information from the local press.
According to the MTI, Ljubljana decided to reestablish border control despite Hungary and Slovenia being members of the Schengen Zone because of the Israeli-Palestinian war. They said their law enforcement authorities found evidence that organised crime is rising in the Western Balkans. Furthermore, different terrorist and extreme movements are leaving the conflict zones to evade the consequences of their actions. They head towards Europe to harm safety and stability there.
As a result, Slovenia created 14 checkpoints on the Hungarian-Slovenian and Croatian-Slovenian border. Two will operate between Hungary and Slovenia. EU citizens are allowed to use all border crossings, but third-country nationals can enter Slovenia only at those 14 checkpoints.
We wrote HERE that Hungary’s MOL may acquire the Slovenian oil company OMV Slovenija. Meanwhile, in THIS article, you may check out details and photos of a new Hungarian children’s centre in Slovenia.
Slovakia introduced border control on the Hungarian-Slovakian border due to illegal migration on 5 October. At first, the end date was 14 October, but they prolonged it until 2 November.
BREAKING: Slovenia introduces border controls at Hungarian border
Due to the terrorist threats in major European cities, Slovenia has also decided to suspend the Schengen agreement and introduce border controls at the Hungarian and Croatian borders.
Border controls in Slovenia
Slovenian Interior Minister Bostjan Poklukar confirmed to N1 television that Slovenia will suspend the Schengen agreement. As a result, border controls will be introduced at the Hungarian and Croatian borders.
The Hungarian and Croatian interior ministers were informed of the announcement. The Slovenian government may approve the measure on Thursday, which will later be sent to the European Commission.
Like Italy, the measure is justified by the growing terrorist threat in Europe. “We see what happened in France and Belgium. Slovenia is no exception,” Poklukar warned. The start date for border controls is still in question, and talks are still ongoing with the EU Commission.
The Slovenian minister said that they are trying to guarantee Slovenia’s security and want to have the least problems for border crossers.
Terror threat in Europe
Recently, two people were killed and one injured in Brussels before a football match. The incident has raised the terror alert to its highest level since 2016. A teacher was stabbed to death in France over the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Shortly afterwards, bomb threats were made at the Louvre and Versailles.
The Counter-Terrorism Coordination Committee has also met in Hungary. In the Committee’s view, the information on terrorism and terrorist acts in the framework of operational and partner cooperation between law enforcement agencies does not justify a change of the medium terror level in Hungary, which has been in place since March 2016.
Slovakia has also introduced border controls due to illegal immigrants. The Hungarian-Slovak border is currently closed until 3 November, index.hu reports.
Opposition party slams plans of battery plant in Hungarian village
Opposition LMP is initiating that the local mayor call a referendum to ask residents in Alsózsolca, in northern Hungary, about the planned battery recycling plant by a Slovene investor, Erzsébet Schmuck, the party’s co-leader, said on Sunday.
The Hungarian foreign minister announced last week that Slovenia’s Andrada Group would build a battery recycling plant using “the world’s latest technology” in the town. He said that new plant would ensure that “electric batteries will be produced in Hungary without any impact on the environment … with the recycling of batteries also ensured.”
Schmuck told an online press conference that in Hungary “none of the localities can feel safe because of the government’s forging ahead with its large-scale plan of becoming a leading power in battery production”. She criticised the government for having neglected the opinion of local residents which she said should have been asked under an international treaty on the right of citizens to learn in advance about projects affecting their life and environment.
Péter Révész, the party’s local councillor, told the same press conference that the licensing process of battery plants was non-transparent with “the interests of investors overriding environmental protection requirements”. Károly Tibor Angyal, secretary of the party’s national board, insisted that the battery plant investments were a “campaign of bluff” on the part of ruling Fidesz. He said such plants were being set up in places that were already dealing with labour shortages. “New positions [at these plants] are getting filled with foreign guest workers for much lower wages which will ultimately push Hungarian wages down,” he said.
Read also:
- New battery recycling plant to be built in Hungary – Read more HERE
- Another huge battery plant to be built in Hungary
Hungary-Slovenia gas interconnector to be constructed
Representatives of Hungary and Slovenia have finalised a cooperation agreement under which “construction of a natural gas interconnector has been granted the green light”, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Facebook on Tuesday.
Slovenia has so far been Hungary’s only neighbour without a link between the two countries’ gas networks, Szijjártó noted.
The new interconnector will have a capacity of 440 million cubic metres, allowing for supplies via the Italy-Slovenia-Hungary gas corridor, the minister said, adding that the new facility would mark “another crucial step towards Hungary’s energy security”.
The finalised agreement will be signed in Budapest in early October.
Hungary and Slovenia have also strengthened their cooperation in the area of nuclear energy, and voiced support for that “sustainable, cheap, and safe way for producing electricity”, Szijjártó said, adding that Slovenia, similarly to Hungary, would expand the lifespan of its nuclear plant and increase its capacity.
He said the parties at his talks in Slovenia had seen eye to eye concerning major issues around creating a regional electricity exchange, adding that a Hungarian-Serbian-Slovenian initiative could be launched early next year.
Read also:
New battery recycling plant to be built in Hungary
Slovenia’s Andrada Group will build a battery recycling plant using “the world’s latest technology” at Alsózsolca, in northern Hungary, the minister of foreign affairs and trade said on Tuesday.
The foreign ministry quoted Péter Szijjártó as saying that the new plant would ensure that “electric batteries will be produced in Hungary without any impact on the environment … with the recycling of batteries also ensured.”
According to the minister, Andrada “observes environmental regulations four times as stringent as those enforced in Hungary.” He added that the new technology was Andrada’s own, and that it was aimed at “making battery production circular, saving the environment from any waste”. He also added that the new technology would be first applied at Alsózsolca.
The new plant, to be built at a cost of 10 billion forints (EUR 26.2m), will have the capacity to recycle 10,000 tonnes of batteries a year. The government is contributing 4.7 billion forint to the project, which will create 200 new jobs, the statement added.
Read also:
- Another huge battery plant to be built in Hungary
- Accidents, illnesses in battery plants in Hungary: new law comes? – Read more HERE
Get ready: Western fuel prices approaching in Hungary
Of the 8 countries in the region, fuel prices in Hungary are the third highest. The tax increase in January could make matters worse. Overall, we are now in the middle range of the 41 European countries for petrol and diesel prices.
The price of fuel in Hungary is the third highest among the eight countries in the region, Népszava reports. According to the portal, the HUF 41 increase in excise tax from 1 January is likely to push up domestic prices even further in the ranking. As it turns out, out of 41 European countries, the current Hungarian petrol price is the 17th cheapest, while the gasoil tariff is the 23rd cheapest. In other words, the prices of both products are now in the mid-range.
Last week, the average price of a litre of petrol in Hungary was HUF 624 (EUR 1.63), and one litre of diesel was HUF 633 (EUR 1.65).
Meanwhile…
- In Slovakia, the 95 petrol was more than HUF 30 more expensive at HUF 656 (EUR 1.71), but Austria was also significantly more expensive.
- The best rate for fuel is HUF 499 (EUR 1.30) per litre in Ukraine.
- Romania is in second place with HUF 557 (EUR 1.45) per litre, followed in order by Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia.
On the gasoil market, Serbia is the most expensive with an average tariff of HUF 653 (EUR 1.70), but Austria is only HUF 2 behind. The cheapest diesel market is also Ukraine, where the average price of HUF 493 (EUR 1.28) per litre is HUF 110 (EUR 0.29) cheaper than in Hungary. The second cheapest is Romania, which is around HUF 60 (EUR 0.16) cheaper than Hungary. Slovenia is next, followed by Slovakia and Croatia, where we can also save around HUF 23 per litre on diesel if we go from Hungary.
PM Orbán, FM Szijjártó held talks about war, athletics, aid for Christians
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Saturday held talks with World Athletics president Sebastian Coe, former Slovenian counterpart Janez Jansa, while FM Péter Szijjártó met with his former Lebanese counterpart.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Saturday held talks with Sebastian Coe, who earlier this week was re-elected World Athletics president at the World Athletics Congress in Budapest, the prime minister’s press chief said. Coe praised the new National Athletics Centre, calling it a “wonderful facility”, Bertalan Havasi told MTI. He also hailed the Hungarian organising committee for its work, adding that everything was set for a good World Athletics Championships. Orbán said the World Athletics Championships was also important economically for Hungary and Budapest, arguing that it generated money, but even more importantly, drew the world’s attention to Hungarians. The prime minister thanked the organisers and volunteers for their work.
The king of athletics:
Read also:
Orbán holds talks with former Slovenian PM
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán held talks with former Slovenian counterpart and head of the Slovenian Democratic Party, Janez Jansa, in his office on Saturday, the prime minister’s press chief said. Orbán and Jansa discussed, among other things, the damage caused by some of the worst storms in Slovenia’s history, for which Hungary has also provided aid in recent weeks, Bertalan Havasi told MTI.
They also discussed the global political situation as well as the importance of peace with respect to the Russia-Ukraine war, and reviewed the work to be done by European conservative Christian parties ahead of next year’s European Parliament elections. Jansa is scheduled to attend the August 20 celebrations and events at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Havasi said.
Read also:
- Group of 38 Hungarian tourists stranded in Slovenia hotel after violent storms – Read more HERE
Hungarian foreign minister holds talks with former Lebanese FM
Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó held talks with former Lebanese counterpart Gebran Bassil, leader of the Free Patriotic Movement, in Budapest on Saturday. One of the pillars of Hungary’s Christian foreign policy is providing assistance to Christian communities in need, Szijjártó said at their joint press conference.
He said international politics should be about building relations, not about breaking them. “If you listen to European politicians, you can mostly hear about what separates us and what makes us different from other parts of the world. For some reason, there is less talk about what connects us and what we have in common,” he added.
“It is clearly in Hungary’s national interest to establish civilised cooperation between East and West. The cooperation between Hungary and Lebanon is an excellent example to this,” he said. He added that respect for each other and the shared Christian heritage provided a stable basis for this, as Hungary has a thousand-year-old Christian statehood, and Lebanon is home to the oldest Christian communities.
Szijjártó said that mayors András Cser-Palkovics and Marcellino Hark signed a twinning agreement between their cities, Székesfehérvár and Batroun, which further strengthened the friendship of the two nations. He noted that the government had provided close to 5 billion forints (EUR 13.0m) for the preservation and renovation of ancient Christian sites in Lebanon and the renovation of sixty-six medieval churches was under way with Hungarian assistance. Based on tied-aid agreements signed this year, the government is providing 140 million forints for the renovation of a historical monument, the reconstruction of a monastery church and an orphanage, and the operation of Protestant schools in Lebanon.
Who’s next? – asks Orbán.
Hungary sends more aid to flood-stricken Slovenia
The Charity Service of the Order of Malta is using high-capacity equipment to dry out the walls of buildings after flooding in the city of Kranj in Slovenia, the organisation said on Friday.
An aid consignment worth 10 million forints (EUR 26,000) has been delivered to the city located 20 kms from Ljubljana which has 37,000 residents, the statement said. The charity is working together with local organisations of the Order of Malta Central Administrative Office, it added. In addition to the aid consignment, 15 high-capacity machines used for drying out walls and several portable generators have been delivered by members of the Hungarian charity.
Disaster management authority sending aid to Slovenia
Hungary’s disaster management authority OKF is sending protection equipment to flood-hit Slovenia under a bilateral agreement, OKF said on Friday. The Hungarian package includes 200,000 sandbags, 500 rubber boots, 300 mattresses, 300 blankets, 300 pillows, 600 sheets, 5,000 torches and 4,800 square metres of flood protection foil, the authority said. The equipment will be sent to Ljubljana, to be distributed by local authorities.
HERE you may read about how Hungary tackled with the flood.
PHOTOS: Record-high water level on River Dráva, but Hungary’s flood management ‘superb’
The authorities combatting flooding on Hungary’s rivers have performed superbly in recent days, partly owing to experiences gained during the great floods ten years ago, a government official said on Thursday.
Torrential rain in western parts of the country has resulted in the serious swelling of rivers, István György, a state secretary of the prime minister’s office, told a press conference in Drávaszabolcs by the River Dráva, adding that flood barriers in Baranya County have held strong this past week. Instructed by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, officials participating in flood protection efforts have maintained close online communication with the government, he noted, also highlighting the contributions of the police, disaster managers, water experts, and local mayors.
The River Dráva at Drávaszabolcs is expected to peak on Friday morning at a near-record level, he said. Fully 31 settlements in the Drávaszabolcs area are being protected, and the first signs of subsidence on the river at Szentborbas has been observed, so flood protection efforts will be maintained in perilous sections of the Dráva until the end of next week, a water management official said.
Here is Orbán’s video:
Hungarian disaster authority offers aid to flood-stricken Slovenia
Hungary’s disaster management authority (OKF) has offered a diving team, pumps and flood protection equipment to Slovenia to help with flood mitigation. The authority said on Thursday that it had offered a 22-member diving team equipped with all-terrain vehicles and boats, 6 high-performance pumps and operating personnel, 2 excavators, 2 tipper trucks, 2 technical experts, sandbags, and other tools necessary for flood protection. The aid will only be sent to Slovenia once it has been accepted, OKF’s statement said.
Hungarian settlements in danger near flooding river
Flood defences are being strengthened in four settlements in Zala County, in western Hungary, around the flooding River Mura, which is likely to peak on Monday night, the local disaster management authorities have said.
Volunteers have used thousands of sandbags and mobile barriers to protect local villages, according to the Zala County Disaster Management Directorate’s website.
The water level of the River Mura was 548 centimeters at Letenye on Monday afternoon, and it is expected to peak at midnight.
The highest water level previously measured at Letenye was 554 centimeters.
Flood defence work is under way in other parts of the country, too, after the water level on the River Dráva reached a record 491 centimeters at Őrtilos, in the south-west, 15 centimetres higher than the previous record, the national water management directorate (OVF) told MTI.
The river’s water level is expected to peak at the southern border village of Drávaszabolcs on Thursday, topping the 596 centimeter record measured in 1972, the OVF said.
The directorate said it was prepared to assign experts to oversee the flood protection efforts to settlements where the mayor deems it necessary.
Hungary sends help to flood-ravaged Slovenia
Hungary’s armed forces have sent two helicopters to assist relief efforts in Slovenia as the country battles one of the worst floods in its recent history, the defence ministry said in a statement on Monday.
Plans are for the Hungarian troops to deliver non-perishable food supplies and medicine to flooded areas within a 100km radius of the Slovenj Gradec airport in northern Slovenia, the ministry cited Colonel Tamás Bali, the commander in charge of the operation, as saying.
The two H145 helicopters can deliver some 700kg of food in one pass to those in need, the statement said.
The Hungarian Armed Forces are cooperating in their relief mission with the Slovenian authorities, Bali added.
Changes in Budapest-Slovenia railway timetables
Passengers travelling by train from Budapest to Slovenia should expect changes due to the heavy rains and flooding that hit the country, the Hungarian State Railways, MÁV, announced.
According to MÁV, based on the Slovenian Railways, the following changes are expected.
- All international trains are in service. On the Celje-Ljubljana section, replacement buses are used for part or all of the journey.
- Occasionally passengers may have to change trains at Hodos and/or Maribor. Travel times will increase significantly on all routes.
- The Citadella international daytime train typically runs between Budapest and Celje, from where you have to take a replacement bus.
- One of the trains of the Istria international overnight train remained in Ljubljana and is now running between Koper/Rijeka-Ljubljana. The other train will run between Budapest and Hodos-Maribor-Celje, depending on the situation. Passengers who have booked a sleeper or berth should expect to be unable to travel the night as per the service they have booked.
- Bicycle transport is not possible due to the replacement buses.
Travelling to Slovenia? HERE is the story of 38 Hungarian tourists stuck in Slovenia due to the extreme weather conditions.
Hungarian army helicopters in Slovenia, security of Hungarians must not be jeopardised
Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said on Sunday that following cooperation talks with Marjan Sarec, his Slovenian counterpart, the Hungarian army would send helicopters to Slovenia to help rescue operations in the neighbouring country.
He said a detailed military planning had already started. Neighbouring countries can always rely on Hungary’s help, the minister said. Storms and heavy rains in recent days have caused massive floods and significant damage in Slovenia, he said. We wrote about a Hungarian group trapped in a Slovenian hotel due to the extreme weather HERE.
Security of Hungarians beyond borders must not be jeopardised
The United States’ request from Hungary to disclose the personal data of 900,000 ethnic Hungarians living beyond the borders is “unrealistic” because a disclosure of such data would jeopardise their security, Bence Rétvári, the Hungarian interior ministry’s state secretary, told public broadcaster Kossuth rádió on Sunday.
The two countries have been making every effort over the past several years to find a solution to standing issues, Retvari said, noting that not long ago, on June 10, Hungary had sent a diplomatic note containing proposals. After this, a decision was announced by the United States to tighten visa rules for Hungarians, he said. “It is an unprecedented and unrealistic request from a country to disclose the personal data of several hundreds of thousands of its citizens because every country safeguards such data with legal guarantees, so does Hungary,” Retvari said.
He said that law enforcement cooperation with the United States had been successful over the past years with the two sides’ continuing coordination on cases implicated. Retvari said Hungary would certainly respond to every case signalled by the US within the shortest possible time. He said proceedings in alleged unlawful cases had been launched and if a breach of law was established, the Hungarian citizenship has been revoked. Hungary will maintain dialogue and cooperate with its ally, the United States, in each case indicated, he said.
We wrote HERE about further possible Washington restrictions.
Group of 38 Hungarian tourists stranded in Slovenia hotel after violent storms
A group of 38 Hungarian tourists were stranded in Slovenia due to extreme weather conditions on Saturday. The travellers were staying in a four-star hotel in Laško when the flooding of the Savinja river put them in a dangerous situation. There have already been three fatalities in Slovenia due to the extreme harsh weather.
Group of Hungarians stranded in Slovenia
A group of 38 Hungarian tourists are stranded in the town of Laško in eastern Slovenia. One of them reported to Index, along with several media outlets, from the scene how the four-star hotel on the banks of the Savinja River where they were staying was flooded.
“At 7 AM, the sirens of the emergency services could already be heard. Staff members went from room to room to warn us of the danger,” recalled Boglárka Szabó, one of the Hungarians stranded in Slovenia. You can check out the photos Szabó and the others took HERE.
The group was due to leave the hotel on Saturday. However, their departure, scheduled for 10 AM, was cancelled due to the storms. The roads around the hotel were already impassable by that time, so the Hungarian group, preparing to leave, returned to the hotel, 444.hu reports.
Hotel flooded, bridges floating
The hotel’s underground car park was flooded, so staff broke into several cars to move them to a safer location. Firefighters even attempted to pump the water out, but this failed as the water level kept rising.
Boglárka Szabó noted that the lift shafts were also full of water, so many people had to use the stairs. There were also a number of Paralympians in the hotel who were particularly badly affected by the situation. The water flooded the ground floor and the reception area, and hotel staff also used PUR foam, rags and sandbags to try to reduce the inflow of water.
“The water flow and level of the Savinja River, next to the hotel, has risen dramatically, bringing with it a lot of debris such as refrigerators, car tyres, oil drums, hay bales, factory pipes and much more. Much of this was caught on bridges that cross the rivers. No wonder the bridges were also floating,” the message concluded. The city and its region have received about 200 mm of rainfall in just 12 hours.
Deaths caused by extreme weather
There have been several deaths in the extreme weather in Slovenia. So far, at least three people have died in the country. One of them was a Slovak citizen, while the other two were Dutch. They all died in the area of the city of Kranj. The exact cause and details of their deaths have not yet been released by the authorities, Index writes.
People smuggling is on a roll, with a Romanian caught with 24 migrants
A local court has ordered the detention of a Romanian driver who attempted to smuggle 24 illegal migrants from Hungary to Slovenia, hiding them in his truck “under inhuman circumstances”, a spokeswoman of the Zala County Prosecutor’s Office said on Monday.
The 39-year-old driver arranged to meet the group of Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan migrants near Arad, Romania and hid them in small spaces inside the vehicle’s compartment, Judit Janky said. Hungarian customs officers conducted an inspection at a parking lot on motorway M70 at Csörnyeföld near the border with Slovenia last Thursday and discovered the migrants squeezed in the compartment without getting sufficient fresh air, water and food, she said.
The Romanian driver was taken into custody on charges of people smuggling and physical abuse over the weekend, Janky said.
Hungary among the best destinations for solo travellers!
Bounce, which offers luggage storage options in cities around the world, has sought out the best, safest and most affordable destinations for solo travellers. Hungary is also in the top ten of this year’s Bounce Solo Travel Index.
Bounce offers luggage storage in cities around the world. The company has now looked for the best, safest and most affordable destinations for solo travellers. The survey looked at leisure and restaurant options, public transport, food and accommodation prices. It also took into account the number of accommodation options, crime and safety indicators and the weather (average annual temperature and rainfall), turizmus.com reports.
European countries performed particularly well in the 2023 Solo Travel Index, but there are also Asian destinations in the top 10. Most importantly, Hungary is also in the top 10 best destinations for people travelling alone.
10. Israel
The country is a fascinating destination, a melting pot of cultures, traditions and customs, according to a compilation reviewed by Reisereporter.
9. Singapore
The Asian country is known for, among other things, its versatile high-end cuisine, bustling street markets and exciting restaurant scene. It is well worth exploring.
7. Spain and Hungary
With the same score, 6.01 out of 10, the two countries actually share 7th and 8th place. Hungary is in the top ten thanks to its cultural cities and spa resorts (Budapest, Veszprém, Hévíz, Eger, Hajdúszoboszló), cheap public transport, food and accommodation. Our recommendation: luggage storage in Budapest
6. Greece
One of the reasons why the destination is so popular with solo travellers is the sheer number of attractions, with 185 for every 100,000 people. In addition, the low cost of accommodation is another reason why it tops the ranking.
5. Iceland
The “Land of Fire and Ice” is known for its breathtaking landscapes, natural wonders and many film locations. Iceland has the most attractions per 100,000 inhabitants (583) of all the destinations surveyed.
4. Portugal
The country’s low prices for restaurants and hotels, among other things, have secured it fourth place: these services cost almost half as much in Portugal as in Iceland.
3. Slovenia
The country has jumped six places in the ranking since the 2021 assessment. According to Bounce, Slovenia is as beautiful as Austria or Switzerland, but without the tourist crowds. It is also much cheaper, with a night in a hostel costing around EUR 22. It should also be pointed out that Slovenia is one of the safest of all the countries surveyed.
2. Malta
The island country’s high average annual temperature (around 20 degrees Celsius) and low average rainfall make it an ideal destination. Malta is known for its historic attractions and dreamy beaches, and the capital Valletta is particularly worth a trip.
1. Croatia
With beautiful beaches, coves, islands and unspoilt national parks, the country offers a wealth of outdoor activities to tempt solo travellers. Croatia has 17 restaurants per 100,000 inhabitants and accommodation is very affordable, with hostels costing an average of €13 a night. The country’s high safety rating (75.4 out of 100) and low crime rate (24.6 out of 100) make it one of the safest destinations in the ranking.
MOL closes grand acquisition in Slovenia
Hungary’s MOL Group announced on Friday the close of the acquisition of Slovenian peer OMV Slovenija, becoming the second biggest oil and gas company in the country in cooperation with Croatia’s INA.
MOL said in a statement it had acquired together with INA a 92.25 stake in OMV Slovenija for 301 million euros. The acquisition temporarily expands MOL’s network in Slovenia by more than 170 filling stations, the company said. Under an agreement between MOL and INA, the Croatian firm will raise its stake in OMV Slovenija from 7.75 percent to 33 percent, with 27 filling stations to operate under the INA brand.
As a vertically integrated regional supplier, MOL operates a different business model to its competitors on the Slovenian market, putting it in a favourable position when it comes to competing in pricing, the company said. At the same time, it allows for the development of further quality products and MOL-EVO fuels, it added. In March, MOL agreed to sell 39 of its petrol stations in Slovenia to Shell to win European Commission approval of the acquisition.