Partial results of the National Consultation public survey indicate that 98 percent of respondents say Ukraine has not met the conditions for joining the EU, according to a government official.
Although forms are still being delivered and the deadline for returning questionnaires expires in a month’s time, “it is by now clear that many people are expressing their opinions”, and 280,000 questionnaires have been returned so far, Csaba Dömötör, state secretary of the Prime Minister’s Cabinet Office, said during a debate in parliament on Wednesday of a draft government resolution regarding Ukraine’s EU bid.
Normally results are made public after the consultation ends, he said, but an exception had been made in light of the “intense” debate over Ukrainian EU membership.
Fidesz MEP: EU divided on Ukraine EU accession
The European Union is not united on the issue of starting accession talks with Ukraine, Kinga Gál, an MEP of Hungary’s ruling Fidesz, said in Strasbourg on Wednesday. Gál told MTI that the decision on starting the talks had not been prepared adequately, and it was uncertain as to what sort of consequences the admission of a country of Ukraine’s size and in such an economic and political situation would have for the bloc. She said Ukraine’s EU membership would have serious consequences for Hungary.
Meanwhile, Gál said the EU had always emphasised uniform conditions when it came to enlargement policy.
“There is no progress being made on enlargement in the Western Balkans because those countries have not fulfilled all the conditions, but Ukraine hasn’t even fulfilled the seven conditions set by the EU for the start of accession talks,” the MEP said. “Despite this, the European Commission would be ready to start the talks.”
She said it was clear that Ukraine did not meet the criteria for starting the talks, not least because it had not resolved the issue of minority rights. She said the EU was applying double standards to Ukraine and had made a hasty decision under political pressure without seeking the opinion of the public.
“The EU would start accession talks with Ukraine without having devised any strategies or preparing an impact study,” Gál said. “Public opinion polls, for instance, show that most EU residents don’t support the start of accession talks with Ukraine at all.”
Fully 87 percent of respondents to a Nézőpont survey say Hungary should not allow genetically modified produce to be imported from Ukraine, the Nézőpont Institute said on Friday.
According to the phone survey of 1,000 adults conducted between December 4 and 6, only 5 percent said such Ukrainian imports should be permitted.
Referring to earlier surveys, Nézőpont said 62 percent of the Hungarian population opposed Kyiv’s endeavours to join the European Union, adding that their reservations may be rooted in their rejection of agricultural imports from Ukraine.
Nézőpont added that respondents who were against Ukrainian imports were “in the majority irrespective of political affiliation”.
Read also:
Orbán: Ukraine is corrupt, Hungary will not be mixed nation – Read more HERE
A recent survey has unearthed startling insights into how Hungarians stay informed about events in their country and the world. Notably, Hungary’s media consumption diverges significantly from other European nations. A mere quarter of the population places trust in state news services, a markedly lower figure compared to other EU countries.
Trust in state news services
As Népszava reported, in Europe, 48% of citizens trust the state news services over other sources. However, this number is much lower in Hungary, only 25%. This percentage makes Hungary the country with the least people trusting the state news on the list of 27 EU countries. Even Poland is ahead of Hungary, with its 26%. Greece and Malta also ranked the lowest with their 39%. Conversely, Finland (71%), Portugal (65%), and Sweden (63%) lead the chart with the highest levels of trust.
Saying goodbye to traditional news sources
While in the other countries, the state news services are considered the most trustworthy source, it is not the case in Hungary. As it appears, Hungary is turning away from the national news sources. Many people get informed through social media, friends, groups, blogs and podcasts. In Hungary, Facebook has a sky-high number of users that get up to date on the social media platform. 83% of Hungarians confessed that they have used the app in the last seven days. WhatsApp is highly popular in EU countries, as 62% of people use it. Surprisingly, in Hungary, only 13% use this app.
What topics interest Hungarians?
The survey delved into the topics that capture Hungarians’ attention the most: local, European, sport, culture or science. A significant 44% of Hungarians prioritise European news, diverging from the European norm where most citizens prefer local news. While 70% of Europeans follow the news daily, a higher 15% of Hungarians consciously avoid certain topics. Unfortunately, the survey did not explore the specifics of disliked topics.
The most popular TV channels in Hungary
62% of people follow ATV’s news, while 56% watch the daily news on RTL. The survey revealed that only 31% gather information from state-operated television programmes. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the majority of those tuning into these programmes align with the governing party, with around 60% supporting Fidesz. Opposition voters, constituting 63%, gravitate towards RTL’s news, known for its critical stance on the government. Additionally, four out of ten governing party voters also engage with government-critical programmes.
In contrast to 2022, fish products in Hungary are expected to be 10-12% cheaper this year.
The significant drop in feed prices, coupled with wetter weather, has yielded positive results for fish farms. Labour and energy costs have continued to rise this year, but producers are still able to sell fish to traders 10-12% cheaper than last year.
It remains to be seen to what extent this will be passed on to consumers by traders. Preliminary expectations are that the price of live carp will be between HUF 1,800-2,200 (EUR 5.27) per kilogram, while sliced carp will cost between HUF 3,500-4,000 (EUR 9.87). The price of fillets of African catfish will be around HUF 4,000 (10.53), while the price of filleted grey catfish will range between HUF 7,500-8,000 (EUR 21.07) per kilo this season, vg.hu reports.
According to a survey of Agroinform.hu, 85% of Christmas fish consumers prefer carp, but 32% also buy catfish for the Christmas feast. African catfish also sells well at this time of year (13%), as do bream and salmon (11-11%).
One of the most popular dishes among Hungarians at Christmas is fish soup, but fried fish is also a common dish on Hungarian tables. And if you’re in the mood for fine wine, here are some of the best ones in Budapest.
Respondents in a recent survey have expressed sympathy with Israel and “there is significant concern” about Islamist terrorism among the general population, pollster Századvég said on Monday.
The survey results put “Israel’s popularity index in the positive range” while 94 percent of those asked had heard about the Hamas organisation’s slaying more than 1,000 civilians on Israeli ground, it said.
According to Századvég “the Hungarian population is definitely critical about anti-Israeli public figures” with “the popularity index of Hungarian and EU politicians supporting Palestine and Hamas is strongly negative”.
Fully 87 percent of respondents said they were concerned that “Islamist terrorism could resurface in Europe in the near future”.
As we wrote a few day ago, Hungarian citizens who wanted to leave Gaza left, one stays – details HERE
We also wrote, Hungary helps Gaza refugees with a lot of money, details HERE.
Hungary’s latest National Consultation public survey containing 11 questions, entitled Protecting our Sovereignty, has got under way, the government said on Facebook on Friday.
The surveyseeks opinions on whether household energy subsidies, the cap on interest paid on commercial loans, and the tax on excessive corporate profits should be scrapped in Hungary “as Brussels wants”.
Opinions are sought on the statements that Brussels intended to create “migrant ghettos” in Hungary and that EU subsidies for Palestinian organisations also reached Hamas, while Brussels would also send more and more weapons and “even more money” to Ukraine.
Further, views are also sought on the statements Brussels would allow genetically modified Ukrainian grain into the bloc, that Brussels wanted to abolish the Child Protection Act, and that Hungarian politics was influenced by money sent “from Brussels and abroad”.
The latest survey of business sentiment conducted by the German-Hungarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DUIHK) shows fewer companies have plans to invest or expand their payroll as outlooks sour.
The survey of 209 companies conducted in October showed that 34 percent expected their own business situation to worsen, while just 18 percent expected improvement. In the previous survey, conducted in the spring, 28 percent expected an improvement and 26 percent deterioration.
Around 37 percent of companies said they planned to cut back on capital expenditures and just 25 percent signalled growing CAPEX. The ratio of companies planning to spend less on investments exceeded that of businesses boosting spending for the first time in ten years, DUIHK noted.
The share of companies planning layoffs (21 percent) also exceeded the share that plan new hires (18 percent) for the first time in a decade.
Companies counted weakening demand, the shortage of trained workers and higher labour costs among business risks they face.
Europeans expect their leaders to end the war in Ukraine, not to finance it, according to an EU-wide survey conducted by the Századvég Foundation.
The pollsters interviewed 30,000 randomly selected adults between 26 April and 22 June, Századvégtold MTI on Thursday.
According to a recent proposal by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, a new funding package of EUR 50 billion would be set up from member states’ contributions to support Ukraine in addition to the EUR 83 billion disbursed so far, which would cover Ukraine’s expenses until 2027.
“Under the strategy underlying the package, Ukraine must be supported until it defeats Russia. However, as is shown by the time horizon of the proposal, the idea would lead to a prolongation of the war and its reality is highly questionable,” Századvég said.
The results of the survey show that only one-fifth of European citizens agree with Brussels’s idea and 72% would choose the alternative of bringing the parties to the negotiating table and ending the war immediately.
The position calling for an immediate end to the war has an absolute majority in all member states except Estonia, and the ratio reaches two-thirds in 20 countries. The most pro-peace member states are Hungary with 89%, Greece with 87%, Malta with 86% and Cyprus and Slovenia, each with 85%.
Last week, we reported that even the wealthiest Hungarian, Thomas Peterffy, believes there could be a Huxit in the future, despite its potentially devastating impact on the Hungarian economy. Recently, the Pew Research Centre (Pew) has been monitoring changes in Hungarians’ attitudes towards the EU, revealing a significant decline in the number and proportion of supporters.
As previously noted, it’s not just Mr Peterffy who envisions a scenario where Hungary might exit the European Union; even a Hungarian university lecturer, András Hettyey, from Budapest’s University of Public Service, has expressed this sentiment. He likened the Hungary-EU relationship to a troubled marriage, suggesting that although a Huxit might not be feasible in the short term, in 5-10 years, as Hungary becomes a net contributor to the EU’s budget, this question may receive a different response.
Evidently, Hungarian society’s sentiment towards the EU has considerably changed. According to a recent survey conducted by the American Pew Research Center, there has been a dramatic decline in the number of Hungarians who support the EU. In contrast, Poland has witnessed the opposite trend, where nine out of ten people maintain a positive view of the European community. Even the former governing party, PiS, which campaigned with anti-EU slogans criticising Brussels for frozen funds and rule of law concerns, could not sway people’s attitudes.
Hungarians are more pro-Russian than the EU average
Pew’s findings indicate that Hungarians exhibit a more pro-Russian stance than the EU average, a perspective that has remained unchanged even in the wake of the turmoil in Ukraine.
However, the Orbán government’s anti-Brussels campaign, highlighting the importance of safeguarding Hungary’s sovereignty, appears to have been more effective. In Hungary, support for the EU has dropped by 10% in just one year. Consequently, Hungary stands as one of the most eurosceptic states in the European Union. While 59% of its citizens maintain a positive view of the EU, the EU average is 69%. Meanwhile, 39% of Hungarians hold a negative attitude towards the European alliance, in contrast to the EU average of only 31%.
Nonetheless, when compared to Franceor Germany, the decline is not that drastic. In France, the decrease is 9%, with only 57% of the population expressing a positive opinion of the EU. In Germany, the drop is 7%, but a significant majority, 71%, still maintain a favourable stance towards the EU, 444.hu wrote.
Interestingly, in Greece, 50% of the population views the EU unfavourably, while 49% hold a favourable view, making them the most eurosceptic member state.
Thought-provoking statistics came from non-EU members. For instance, 83% of South Koreans, 70% of Kenyans and 66% of the British regard the EU favourably.
Hungarians are not the most EU-sceptics
It’s worth noting that in Hungary, the lowest favourable rating was recorded in 2018, at only 57%. The highest was in 2022, with 69%, but this declined to 59% in just one year, likely due to Viktor Orbán’s ongoing anti-Brussels campaign. This is corroborated by Pew’s ideology chart, which reveals that only 54% of right-wing voters in Hungary support the EU, while the figure is 81% for left-wing voters. This left-right divide is at +27, the second largest in the EU, surpassed only by the Netherlands (+29).
When considering the change from ’22 to ’23, the most substantial decrease was witnessed in Hungary, followed by France (-9%), Germany and the Netherlands (-7%) and Sweden (-6%).
For instance, in France (Orbán’s new ally, as discussed HERE), the lowest rating was in 2016, at only 38%, though it’s important to note that the UK departed from the EU when this figure stood at 44%.
Fully four-fifths of Hungary’s companies employ sustainability experts and over half of the respondents in a recent survey by Siemens Hungary said they had a sustainability system or policy, according to the report published on Thursday.
Activities aimed at sustainability focus primarily on waste management (95 percent), energy efficiency (85 percent) and water management (78 percent).
The survey was conducted among Hungarian companies with annual revenues above HUF 1 billion (EUR 2.6m) and with at least 20 employees.
Two-thirds of respondents said their environmental activities were comparable to their competitors, while 20 percent said they were doing more for sustainability than other companies.
The rule of law has once again eroded in a majority of countries this year. Hungary ranks 73rd out of 142 globally, while 31st out of 31 regionally.
The rule of law has once again eroded in a majority of countries this year, according to the World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index 2023. This is the sixth consecutive Index marking global declines in the rule of law. This year alone, the rule of law declined in 59% of countries surveyed—including Hungary.
Since 2016, rule of law has fallen in 78% of countries studied. The rule of law factor to decline most between 2016 and 2023 is Fundamental Rights—down in 77% of countries, including Hungary.
Source: World Justice Project
Over the past seven years, Index scores for Constraints on Government Powers have fallen in 74% of countries—including Hungary. Around the world, legislatures, judiciaries, and civil society—including the media—have all lost ground on checking executive power, the Index shows.
These and other authoritarian trends continued in 2023, but they are slowing, with fewer countries declining in 2022 and 2023 than in earlier years.
Constraints on Government Powers fell in 56% of countries, compared to 58% in 2022 and 70% in 2021. Likewise, a smaller majority of countries saw overall rule of law declines in this year (59%) as compared to the last two (61% and 74%).
A smaller majority of countries (56%) also experienced a decline in Fundamental Rights again this year, compared to 2022 (66%).
On the other hand, declines in the functioning of justice systems are now expanding.
Two thirds of countries (66%) saw their Index scores for Civil Justice fall this year, up from 61% of countries last year—including Hungary. Greater justice delays and weaker enforcement are largely to blame. Meanwhile, scores for Criminal Justice also fell in slightly more countries this year (56%) than last year (55%).
“The world remains gripped by a rule of law recession characterized by executive overreach, curtailing of human rights, and justice systems that are failing to meet people’s needs,” said WJP co-founder and president William H. Neukom. “People around the world are paying the price.”
Rule of law in Hungary
Source: World Justice Project
Hungary ranks 73rd out of 142 countries worldwide.
Regionally, Hungary ranks 31st out of 31 countries in European Union, European Free Trade Association, and North America.* The region’s top performer is Denmark (ranked 1st out of 142 globally), followed by Norway and Finland. The three countries with the lowest scores in the region are Greece, Bulgaria, and Hungary (73rd globally).
In the last year, 16 out of 31 countries declined in the European Union, European Free Trade Association, and North America. Of those 16 countries, seven had also declined in the previous year.
Among high income countries, Hungary ranks 45th out of 46.**
Global rankings and trends
Globally, the top-ranked country in the 2023 WJP Rule of Law Index is Denmark, followed by Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Germany. The country with the lowest score is Venezuela, then Cambodia, Afghanistan, Haiti, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
*Countries and jurisdictions measured in the European Union, European Free Trade Association, and North America region: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States
**High income countries and jurisdictions: Antigua and Barbuda; Australia; Austria; The Bahamas; Barbados; Belgium; Canada; Chile; Croatia; Cyprus; Czechia; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Hong Kong SAR, China; Hungary; Ireland; Italy; Japan; Republic of Korea; Kuwait; Latvia; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Malta; Netherlands; New Zealand; Norway; Panama; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Singapore; Slovak Republic; Slovenia; Spain; St. Kitts and Nevis; Sweden; Trinidad and Tobago; United Arab Emirates; United Kingdom; United States; Uruguay
Hungary is among the top 5 EU countries regarding who spends the most on prostitutes. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, people’s spending on these special services dropped drastically in Hungary. Now, it has been showing a growing tendency again.
How much does an average Hungarian spend on prostitutes?
As Pénzcentrum reported, according to Eurostat’s freshest data from 2022, the Hungarian population spent HUF 153 billion (EUR 391 million) on prostitutes in a year. Therefore, the average Hungarian spent over HUF 15,800 (EUR 41.3) on these services last year. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the year 2020 was horrible for the business. According to the data, people spent 80% less on prostitutes in that year. However, there has been a growing tendency from 2021. Thus, it is very likely that the numbers will soon overtake the ones before the pandemic.
EU ranking
As mentioned above, Hungarians spent EUR 391 million on prostitutes last year, this number puts the country in fourth place in the EU ranking. Portugal is third on the list with a yearly spending of EUR 751 million. Greece takes the second place with EUR 1009 million. Meanwhile, the highest spending is in Belgium, where people paid EUR 1159 million for these services in 2022. Hungary is followed by Luxembourg on the list with EUR 302 million.
Lithuania, Slovakia, Czechia and Romania are in the middle section of the ranking. Among the countries with the lowest numbers are Latvia, Malta and Estonia. Just for reference, Estonia is last on the list with less than EUR 6 million. Thus, these nations spent significantly less on prostitutes. It is highly important to note that not all EU countries provided data on the matter, so some countries are not featured on the list at all.
It may come as surprising to some, but prostitution is in fact legal in Hungary under certain rules and restrictions. For example, just as any other worker, prostitutes have to pay taxes too. Dívány notes that there are harsh limitations on where sex workers can work. They cannot roam the streets just anywhere. There can be designated zones that the local governments choose. Although, if there is no such zone, sex workers still have to keep a few rules in mind. For example, they can only wait for their clients 300 metres from public establishments, 100 metres from highways, and 50 metres from main roads. We have recently reported HERE that some citizens in Budapest have complaints about undercover brothels.
The number of foreign citizens has seen a significant surge in recent years. According to data from the Hungarian Central Statistical Office, two districts stand out with notably high numbers of foreign residents. The majority of these individuals hail from countries outside the European Union.
Foreign residents in Budapest
Telex reported that during the 2022 census, all residents in Hungary completed a survey, unveiling valuable insights into Budapest’s demographic makeup. The survey included both foreigners who have resided in Hungary for over three months and individuals who live abroad but maintain a Hungarian address.
As per the Hungarian Central Statistical Office, the Hungarian capital is now home to 98,319 foreign citizens, constituting approximately 5.8% of the city’s population. While one might assume that most of these individuals originate from the EU, given the ease of movement within the European Union, the reality differs significantly. Only around 30% of these foreign residents come from EU countries, with the remaining 70% originating from non-EU nations. Additionally, a recent survey indicated that three-quarters of Hungarians support the Christian culture.
Demographic breakdown of the foreign population
It would be interesting to examine the composition of the foreign population, but the latest data remains unavailable. In 2011, 3.27% (56,632 people) of Budapest‘s population hailed from other countries. During that period, a substantial proportion of these residents came from neighbouring nations like Romania, Ukraine, Slovakia and Serbia. There were also considerable numbers from Germany and Russia, with 15,741 people arriving from various Asian countries, predominantly China and Vietnam. An additional 2,595 arrived from the States, while 1,393 came from Africa.
Most preferred districts in Budapest
The prevalence of foreign residents diminishes notably in other regions of the country, with every second foreigner in Hungary residing in the capital, while the remainder is distributed throughout the countryside. The most favoured location within Budapest is Terézváros (District VI.), where approximately 24.8% of the population originates from foreign countries. This area has experienced a substantial upward trend in its foreign population. In 2001, this percentage stood at a mere 3.1%, but by 2011, it had risen to 8.4%. Should this trend continue, there may eventually be more foreign residents than Hungarian citizens in Terézváros. The district’s mayor underscores the importance of English-language communication to keep residents informed about critical news.
District V. claims the second spot in terms of Budapest neighbourhoods with the highest concentration of foreign residents. The percentage of foreigners in this district was 3.6% in 2001, and it increased to 7.9% over the following decade. Presently, it stands at 23.5%, reflecting a remarkable growth. Conversely, the District XXI. (Csepel) does not attract a substantial number of foreign citizens, with their proportion growing only from 1.2% to 1.7% over the past two decades. As previously reported, the Mayor of Budapest emphasised that “Cities should dismantle barriers and construct bridges to preserve their values.”
Amid reports that gold investment jumped 18% to 4,741t in 2022, the price of gold has now dropped below $1900 per ounce this week, it’s lowest point since March 2023.
As central banks seek to use gold as an inflation hedge — a measure of protection against purchasing power risk — individual consumers may consider doing the same in the form of coins or jewellery, as is particularly popular in China or the United States.
Seeking to analyse gold investment trends in European countries further, City Index utilised data from the World Gold Council to reveal which countries had the biggest increase in gold reserves in the last decade.
The results:
Country
Last Year End 13
Last Year End 22
% increase 2013-2022
Hungary
3.08
94.49
2967.86%
Poland
102.92
228.67
122.18%
Ireland
6
12.04
100.67%
Czechia
10.85
11.96
10.23%
Greece
112.16
114.24
1.85%
France
2,435.38
2,436.75
0.06%
Portugal
382.48
382.57
0.02%
United Kingdom
310.25
310.29
0.01%
Hungary’s gold holdings have increased by almost 3000%
Gold reserves in Hungary averaged 3.08 tonnes from 2013 until 2017, before reaching an all-time high of 94.49 tonnes in 2021, the largest purchase by a Sovereign leader since Poland in 2019.This is an increase of 2967.86% from 2013, the largest rise in Europe, with Hungary now holding 89% more gold than the neighbouring country of Czechia (11.96 tonnes).
Read also:
Sensational discovery: Gold fever could break out in Hungary – Read more HERE
Hungarian businessman would buy Transcarpathia from Ukraine for gold
The nation’s gold:
Central banks often acquire gold as part of their strategy to diversify their reserves, a move aimed at spreading risk. Gold is primarily a safety net, serving as a reliable hedge against inflation in times of crisis or financial distress.
Hungary confronted the global crises of the 2020s while holding substantial gold reserves, and the subsequent upsurge in the international gold price post-2020 has further elevated the MNB’s gold reserves.
Matt Weller adds: “The MNB first decided to significantly increase the gold reserve in 2018, based on long-term national and economic strategic considerations. Hungary’s significant increase in gold holdings in the last decade is likely an attempt to diversify its foreign reserves, a move that is consistent with its broader strategic goals. This trend is part of a larger global shift in which countries are increasingly looking to reduce their reliance on the US dollar, and we expect this trend to continue as geopolitical tensions persist.”
The United Kingdom is among countries not bolstering their gold reserves
City Index can reveal that despite having the fifth largest economy in the world, The United Kingdom has chosen to increase its gold reserves by a marginal amount (+0.01%). Gold reserves in the UK have increased from 310.25 to 310.29 tonnes in the last decade, the tenth lowest rise in Europe. In comparison, Ireland — the country considered to be the most similar to the UK by several metrics — has seen the fourth-highest increase in gold reserves between 2013 and 2022, with a 100.67% rise.
The UK’s gold reserves have remained stable over the past since 2013 (+0.01%), with levels largely unchanged after Gordon Brown — then Chancellor of the Exchequer — sold 56% in 2002. This decision aimed to seek better investment returns in foreign currencies like the US Dollar and Euro, as gold’s traditional safe haven status waned, despite its historical role as an inflation hedge.
Poland now holds 94% more gold than Czechia
Poland has had the second-largest increase in gold reserves in the last decade in Europe, increasing by 122.18% from 102.92 to 228.67 tonnes. This is 94% more than Czechia (11.96 tonnes) where gold reserves have increased by 10.23% in the same period. In 2021, governor Adam Glapinski announced his intention for Poland to acquire an additional 100 tonnes of gold in the coming years, as part of an effort to reduce dependence on the U.S dollar.
Matt Weller, Head of Market Research at City Index, comments:
“The surge in gold investment demand in some European countries signals a growing concern among investors regarding the inflationary pressures in the market, prompting individuals to seek a reliable measure of protection against purchasing power risk.
As central banks continue to use gold as an inflation hedge, it’s not surprising to see individual investors following suit in the form of coins or jewellery, especially in countries such as India and China, where gold has long been considered a traditional store of value.”
Fully 75% of Hungarian adults consider Hungary “a Christian country based on its culture and traditions”, the Center for Fundamental Rights said on Wednesday, reporting on the think-tank’s latest survey.
86% of the 1,000 voting-age respondents identified as Christian, the survey found.
The report pointed to increasing violence against Christians in Europe. “Christian heritage has been beset by Muslim masses arriving illegally and leftist extremists promoting cancel culture,” it said.
Concluding from the survey’s findings, the think-tank said Hungary’s “high proportion” of religious people could be further increased, and it praised government efforts in this area, such as protecting Europe’s southern borders “against Islamic occupation”, and “protecting Christian traditions against Western liberal elites”.
A new study has revealed the top 10 best European cities for studying abroad, and with a score of 6.68/10, Budapest ranks in 8th place.
The experts at Moving to Spain have revealed the top 10 best cities for studying abroad, by analysing factors such as the percentage of international students, cost of living, safety, post-graduate visas, google searches and nightlife. You can view the full findings by clicking HERE.
The top 10 best European cities for studying abroad
Cost of Domestic Beer, 1 Pint
Cost of 1 bedroom Apartment in City Centre
Rank
City
Country
International Students
EUR
GBP
USD
EUR
GBP
USD
Safety Scores
Post-Graduate Visa
Bars and Nightclubs per 100,000 people
Searches for Universities
Student Score /10
1
Maastricht
Netherlands
56%
€4.50
£3.86
$4.85
€1,068
£917
$1,151
80
Yes
16.31
24,200
7.70
2
Prague
Czech Republic
54%
€2.20
£1.89
$2.37
€992
£852
$1,068
75
Yes
54.22
1,440
7.60
3
Valencia
Spain
50%
€2.50
£2.15
$2.69
€824
£707
$887
69
Yes
9.83
11,430
6.99
4
Innsbruck
Austria
46%
€4.30
£3.69
$4.63
€950
£816
$1,023
74
Yes
16.08
2,950
6.95
5
Logrono
Spain
41%
€2.50
£2.15
$2.69
€567
£486
$610
79
Yes
0
6.80
6
Madrid
Spain
32%
€2.60
£2.23
$2.80
€990
£850
$1,066
73
Yes
18.37
9,590
6.76
7
Cluj-Napoca
Romania
33%
€2.02
£1.73
$2.18
€452
£388
$487
77
Yes
11.05
280
6.74
8
Budapest
Hungary
34%
€2.15
£1.85
$2.32
€551
£473
$594
65
Yes
14.76
1,840
6.68
9
Barcelona
Spain
34%
€3.00
£2.58
$3.23
€1,084
£930
$1,167
49
Yes
33.18
24,700
6.50
10
Munich
Germany
36%
€4.50
£3.86
$4.85
€1,344
£1,154
$1,448
80
Yes
10.71
10,280
6.46
11
Vienna
Austria
58%
€4.10
£3.52
$4.42
€852
£731
$917
73
Yes
8.75
690
6.26
Read also:
New European QS university ranking: Hungarian universities in the top – click HEREfor more
Maastricht has been named the best city in Europe to study abroad, It’s one of the most popular cities with 24,200 searches for universities last year. Not only are half the students here international, but half of the courses are taught in English.
Wageningen has also been named the safest European city for studying abroad, with a safety score of 87/100. In contrast, Bremen in Germany is perceived as one of the least safest cities, with a score of 44/100.
Braganca has been revealed as the European city with the most affordable accommodation, with the cost of a one bedroom apartment priced at €260. Following in second and third are Varna and Ilmenau with prices of €333 and €350 respectively.
Conversely, Zurich stands out as the most expensive city to reside in, with the cost of renting a one-bedroom apartment averaging €2,435 a month.
Spain holds the distinction of being the most popular country for studying abroad, with Valencia, Madrid, Logrono and Barcelona all ranking among the top 10 best cities.
According to the EU-backed survey conducted by GKI Economic Research, Hungarian households and business expectations improved markedly in August. This pushes the GKI’s business sentiment index to a five-month high. In the eighth month of the year, firms’ relatively favourable employment and price-setting intentions remained mostly unchanged compared to July.
The confidence index
As Pénzcentrum wrote the business confidence index is a weighted average of the industrial, trade, construction and services confidence indices. The industrial business confidence index is derived from the responses to questions on business perceptions of orders and inventories as well as production expectations. The construction confidence index is the average of the perception of orders and employment expectations. The trade confidence index is the perception of business and inventory levels and the average turnover expectations. The services confidence index is the perception of business and the average of turnover and employment expectations. The research institute provides seasonally adjusted data to filter out seasonal effects (such as weather, summer holidays and higher demand before Christmas).
The consumer confidence index is compiled from responses to questions on the past and expected development of the financial situation of households, the expected development of the economic situation in the country and the prospects for the purchase of consumer durables.
Business confidence
The GKI business confidence index rose modestly in August. However, this still has not made up for the big drop in June. This month, the sectoral outlook improved, with the exception of construction. In the industry sector, the assessment of production has improved during the summer, the assessment of orders remained the same, while stocks and the outlook for production have improved. On the opposite, in the construction sector, both satisfaction with the last three months’ production and the assessment of orders deteriorated significantly.
In the trade sector, the assessment of the sales position became more unfavourable, while the assessment of orders improved and stocks remained unchanged. Although the overall business climate weakened, turnover expectations for the near future improved slightly in the service sector. In conclusion, construction is the most pessimistic sector, but retailers are also quite gloomy.
The consumer confidence
Public sentiment improved steadily over the summer, with the GKI consumer confidence index reaching a 16-month high this month. In August, all of the consumer confidence indicators moved in a positive direction. Both the assessment of the development of the own financial situation over the past 12 months and expectations for the new 12 months improved. The perception of money to spend on high-value consumer goods also increased. Businesses’ propensity to hire bettered too. The public’s fear of unemployment moved only within the margin of error.
Businesses in Hungary have the 3rd best chance of surviving the first year across countries in the European Union (EU) according to new research, with a 95.10% survival rate!
As part of their Global Business Report, Utility Bidder has analysed 1st-year business survival rates across the EU, revealing that 82.5% of businesses survive the first 12 months on average across the continent. You can view the research HERE. Top 10 EU countries with the highest one-year business survival:
Rank
Country
1-year Survival Rate
1
Sweden
97.1%
2
Netherlands
95.7%
3
Hungary
95.1%
4
Belgium
93.8%
5
Greece
92.7%
6
Luxembourg
86.7%
7
Austria
85.7%
8
Slovakia
84.5%
9
Poland
84.2%
10
Slovenia
84.1%
The research has also revealed:
After analysing the survival rates of EU businesses, Lithuania has the lowest first-year survival rates at 64.2%.
The Netherlands has been revealed as the best country in the world to start a new business, with a business score of 8.49 out of 10. The region scored highly on aspects such as employment, education, and 1-year survival.
Icelandic people are the most employable, with an employment rate of 83% – more than any other OECD country.
Luxembourg has the highest average salary (£61,695), followed by Ireland (£61,657), Norway (£53,919), Switzerland (£51, 981), and the United States (£50,622).
