Hungary is ready to build a mutually beneficial cooperation with Cuba as a country that has an open, export-driven economy and is seeking the possibility of cooperation with any willing country, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said after meeting his Cuban counterpart in Budapest on Friday. According to Szijjártó, it has not happened for 41 years that Cuba’s foreign minister visited Budapest.
At a joint press conference with Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, Szijjártónoted that the last time a Cuban foreign minister had paid a visit to Hungary was in 1983. He said that despite their geographical distance of almost 9,000 kilometres there were areas of cooperation for the two countries to further explore, according to a ministry statement.
The minister announced that they had signed cooperation agreements including one in science and innovation that allows coordinated developments in the area of health-sciences, for instance in biotechnology and nuclear medicine. It could also contribute to the soonest possible achievement of carbon neutrality and food safety, he said.
Szijjártó with HE Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla. Photo: FB/Szijjártó
He noted that under the cooperation ten Cuban students would continue to receive a state scholarship annually to study at a Hungarian university.
“And an agreement concluded between our foreign affairs institute and Cuba’s research institute for foreign affairs will allow young people specialised in foreign affairs studies to expand their knowledge,” the minister said.
Cuban FM came from BRICS summit
Szijjártó said that since his Cuban colleague arrived in Budapest straight from the BRICS summit in Kazan, he could get information “first hand” about that event.
He noted the upcoming meeting of the European Political Community’s leaders scheduled for early next month in Budapest and expressed hope that once in future the leaders of major western and eastern countries will sit down to the same negotiating table, “enabling that the next decades of the world should be about connectivity and respectful global cooperation rather than about the emergence of blocs”.
The minister said such a development would be highly needed at a time when mankind was facing challenges that affected all people irrespective of their political orientation, sympathies or the geographical location where they live.
“Nobody can hide from war, terrorism or challenges posed by energy and food safety. These are all global problems that need global solutions; and global solutions can only be found if we are capable of building up a respectful global cooperation.”
“Hungary will do its small part in promoting that, since we believe in dialogue, to have a dialogue is a lot better than having none….,” the minister said.
Hungarian foreign minister supports easing embargo on Cuba
Meanwhile, Szijjártó said that Hungary also supported the resolution to be submitted for a vote next week in the United Nations General Assembly on easing the US embargo on Cuba.
“And before some busy-bodies file reports claiming that what an anti-West position Hungary has endorsed again, I would like to emphasise that [the resolution’s support] is a uniform position of the European Union,” said Szijjártó, adding that an agreement signed between the EU and Cuba a couple of years ago could not take effect in full in the absence of EU-member Lithuania’s ratification.
“Interestingly, the international liberal mainstream has not labelled Lithuania for being a member that undermines European unity. Whereas, interestingly, labelling comes immediately when Hungary happens to reject a measure in the EU.”
Szijjártó noted that Hungarian-Cuban cooperation looked back on a long past, adding that the two countries will mark the 65th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties next year.
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The exhibition has been organised under the arrangements of the Hungarian-Turkish Cultural Year by the Parliament’s public collections directorate, the Hungarian embassy and the Liszt Institute – Hungarian Cultural Centre Istanbul.
Kövér told the opening event that Hungarian-Turkish relations had a long history but “despite the ties of kinship, unfortunately the period when our countries when our countries were fighting against each other had lasted too long.”
Photo: MTI
He added, however, that the Hungarian people would never forget that Ilona Zrinyi, Imre Thokoly, Ferenc Rakoczi II, Lajos Kossuth and “many of our heroes found refuge on Turkish land.
The purpose of the exhibition is to present to visitors the Parliament building and its cultural features, and to attract tourists to visit the building in Budapest.
Photo: MTI
The Hungarian-Turkish Cultural Year organised to mark the 100th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Hungary and Türkiye offers an opportunity to strengthen cultural cooperation between the two countries.
Kövér will continue his official visit in Ankara where he will hold talks with his host Numan Kurtulmus, speaker of the Grand National Assembly, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
László Kövér opening the exhibition. Photo: MTI
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The 2024 summer season exceeded all expectations in Hungarian tourism, largely boosted by the increased number of foreign tourists. Between June and August, Hungary saw a 14 percent increase in the number of foreign visitors, with more than 3 million international tourists spending nearly 8 million nights in Hungarian accommodations.
As reported by Lelépő, more than 1.7 million tourists visited the Hungarian capital, Budapest, in the summer of 2024. To put this number into perspective: more than half of of all overnight stays booked by foreign tourists have been registered in Budapest which made the capital stand out not only in terms of the number of visitors but also in terms of total revenue. International visitors produced the overwhelming majority of hotel revenues: 90 percent, or almost HUF 103 billion (more than EUR 256 million).
Rural hotels and other accommodation providers also performed well, especially in spa towns and around Lake Balaton. 1.4 million foreign tourists visited Hungary outside the capital, generating nearly 4 million overnight stays and HUF 67 billion (almost EUR 167 million) of revenue, which is a 13 percent increase outside Budapest and 15 percent around Lake Balaton.
Swans in Lake Balaton near Siófok, Hungary. Photo: depositphotos.com
Most tourists came from Germany, Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, and the United Kingdom. The number of British and Slovakian tourists increased by 9 percent each compared to the previous year, while the number of Chinese visitors doubled in the same period.
The successful summer season underlines the importance of tourism in the economy of Hungary, as revenues generated by the sector account for 12 percent of the country’s GDP. According to Olivér Csendes, CEO of Visit Hungary, the successful summer season is significant not only in terms of immediate results but also in terms of annual tourism turnover, as almost 37 percent of annual foreign overnight stays are generated in the summer period.
These were the most popular destinations among foreign tourists
Outside the capital, Lake Balaton, Bük-Sárvár, and the Mátra-Bükk regions, Debrecen (the second largest city in Hungary), Siófok, Hajdúszoboszló, and Hévíz (three of the most popular towns by Lake Balaton) attracted the most visitors.
President Tamás Sulyok commemorated the victims of the Holocaust at a visit at the Auschwitz memorial site and museum on Saturday.
Sulyok laid a wreath at the “Death Wall”, where thousands of people were executed by firing squad during the second world war. He lit a candle in commemoration of the Hungarian victims of the holocaust in Camp 1, and at the Hungarian-language plaque at Camp 2.
Photo: MTI
Photo: MTI
Photo: MTI
In the guest book, Sulyok wrote: “I came because all Hungarians should come here once, so they can see what human evil can do. We can’t forget or replace the lives destroyed here. Many of them were my compatriots, one of us. Walking among the barracks, I feel that pain or sadness is not enough. We need a determined commitment to good and against evil. We can’t let any more people be taken away from us.”
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Good news for sightseeing enthusiasts: in a recent study, Compare the Market assessed the cost of food, transport, and accommodation in several popular destinations and compiled a list of the most affordable destinations in Europe to visit this autumn. Budapest, the Hungarian capital, has made it onto this list as one of the best budget-friendly destinations for a quick city break.
Although the end of the year is fast approaching, it’s not too late to plan a short European getaway this autumn, offering a chance to unwind before the busy holiday season. While last-minute bookings can often be pricier, as Travelo points out in their report, choosing the right destination can help save a great deal.
Before compiling the list of the top affordable destinations, Compare the Market analysed key factors such as the cost of a meal per person, local transport, the price of an Airbnb stay, and the number of Instagram posts, to identify the best affordable cities for a quick European break.
This year, Compare the Market named Istanbul, the bustling Turkish capital, as the top value destination. It’s hardly surprising, with the average meal costing just £7.31 (€8.73), a one-way transport ticket priced at 43p (€0.51), and an Airbnb averaging £68 (€81.23) per night.
It’s worth noting that the list of the most affordable destinations also includes some notoriously expensive cities, which are probably ranked higher because of the number of Instagram posts they have attracted. These include Vienna, the capital of Austria (14th), and Paris (15th), Timeout reports.
These are the best affordable destinations for autumn 2024
Istanbul
Warsaw
Budapest
Krakow
Prague
Heraklion
Oporto
Athens
Tallinn
Madrid
Seville
Lyon
Lisbon
Vienna
Paris
Budapest also ranked among the friendliest European destinations
In a recent survey, Condé Nast Traveler asked its readers to vote for the friendliest European cities in their experience. The list of the ten best destinations in this regard included cities everywhere from Eastern Europe to the Mediterranean, with Stockholm, Sweden’s capital at the top, scoring 94.07 points.
Budapest claimed second place, with a score of 91.88 points, despite not making the top 10 last year. Valencia, Spain, secured third place with 91 points.
The report highlighted Budapest’s reputation as the “City of Spas,” with over 100 natural springs feeding its thermal baths. It also praised the city’s stunning and diverse architecture, as well as the pride locals take in their city and their eagerness to share it with visitors. You can read our full report on Condé Nast Traveler’s ranking here.
Discover the must-visit attractions in Istanbul, the top-ranked city on the list:
…and Budapest, our bronze medalist with just as many captivating sights to explore:
Hungary is serving Europe and its citizens in a responsible way, President Tamás Sulyok said after the annual meeting of the Arraiolos Group, in Cracow on Friday.
Hungary and Poland have a bond through their thousand-year history, and Hungary has a similarly strong bond with Europe, he told a press conference.
“Europe is for us about our Christian faith and values and about our self-identity. We Hungarians view Europe as a free community of sovereign nations that share the same cultural roots and values,” the president said.
Photo: MTI
Hungary is for this reason committed to strengthening Europe and the European communities, protecting the continent’s interests and preserving its peace, he said.
Speaking to Hungarian journalists, Sulyok said the meeting had addressed issues affecting Europe and the global geopolitical situation including the Russia-Ukraine war, energy security, the EU’s competitiveness, economic problems and EU enlargement.
Photo: MTI
The participants were in agreement that further delaying progress in the integration of the Western Balkans countries would compromise the EU’s credibility in those countries.
Sulyok said that the topic of next month’s US elections also came up and the meeting’s position was that it would not basically influence the situation regarding Europe’s defence capabilities.
“We all were in agreement that the US and NATO are important stakeholders in providing for Europe’s security, yet, Europe’s defence capabilities must be strengthened.”
Photo: MTI
Photo: MTI
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Hungary’s Speaker of Parliament, László Kövér, has received Kazakh counterpart Yerlan Koshanov, who is in Budapest on an official visit.
Kövér said Central Asia was a Hungarian foreign policy priority and relations were based on mutual respect, focusing on economic, trade and energy cooperation.
The office of parliament on Monday quoted the speaker as saying that Hungary was proud of its 2010 policy of opening up to the East, saying “our interests coincide” in terms of European energy security, action against terrorism and the consequences of climate change.
He said that under its EU presidency, Hungary will encourage the bloc to tighten cooperation with Kazakhstan, adding that it was in no one’s interest for “an iron curtain to separate the Eastern and Western halves of the world.”
The stability of Kazakhstan and the Commonwealth of Turkic States “is vitally important in this dangerous world”,
he said, adding that regional instability undermined global stability.
He noted that Hungary and Kazakhstan are celebrating the 10th anniversary of their strategic partnership this year, a decade of mutually “beneficial cooperation” and “fast-developing friendly relations”.
Regarding parliamentary ties, Kövér referred to the continuous development of cooperation both on a bilateral basis and within the framework of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkish-Speaking States.
The speakers were in agreement that sanctions against Russia led “nowhere”, while UN resolutions, diplomacy and international law provided the only viable path to a peaceful resolution. Kosanov said Kazakhstan would be glad to host peace negotiations.
He also thanked Hungary for providing scholarships for 250 Kazakh university students who wish to study in Hungary.
The two speakers signed a cooperation agreement between the Hungarian assembly and the Kazakh lower house.
Kazakhstan held a referendum on Sunday on whether to build its first nuclear power plant, and more than 71% of voters backed the idea, which was backed by President Kazim-Yomart Tokayev’s cabinet as a way to phase out polluting coal-fired power plants. This is a key change in the country’s energy strategy, which has faced significant challenges due to ageing energy infrastructure and dependence on Russia.
Tineke Strik, the European Parliament’s rapporteur on the rule of law in Hungary visited Budapest last week. In an interview, she shared her general opinion on Hungary, as well as insights into the rule of law issue, frozen EU funds and the lack of Erasmus programme opportunities for Hungarian youth.
Tineke Strik in Hungary
Tineke Strik, the Dutch Green Party MEP and newly appointed European Parliament rapporteur on the rule of law in Hungary, visited Budapest last week. In an interview with Telex, she discussed her perspective on Hungary’s rule of law situation, her thoughts on the EU’s actions, and her efforts to engage with the Hungarian government. Strik also noted that this was not her first visit, having been to Hungary multiple times, including during her university career and twice in her last parliamentary term, both for rule of law concerns.
Photo: Facebook / Tineke Strik
Judgement on Hungary
Tineke Strik, the European Parliament’s rapporteur on the rule of law in Hungary, expressed deep concern over the deteriorating situation in the country. She highlighted growing issues such as smear campaigns, state propaganda, and the targeting of teachers, judges, and NGOs, which are fostering a climate of fear and control throughout society. Strik criticised the government for creating insecurity by using emergency powers to bypass institutions like the National Assembly.
Although she attempted to engage with government representatives, her requests for meetings were declined. Instead, she consulted with the Fundamental Rights Commissioner and the Integrity Authority, as well as visiting regions beyond Budapest to gain a broader perspective.
The rule of law issue
Tineke Strik criticised the ineffectiveness of the Article 7 procedure, which has been ongoing for six years without significant action. She expressed frustration that despite numerous hearings, EU Member States have not made any formal recommendations to address Hungary’s rule of law breaches. Strik noted that reluctance among Member States to criticise each other and fear of exposing divisions in the Council of Ministers has stalled progress, with many adopting a short-term approach.
Strik also addressed the Hungarian government’s argument regarding the suspension of Article 7 in Poland, acknowledging that the EU’s swift action in resuming funding might have given Hungary an excuse to undermine the procedure. However, she highlighted that Poland’s new government has introduced a plan to restore the rule of law. Strik believes more time should have been taken to assess Poland’s situation to avoid the perception of double standards.
EU funds and Erasmus
During the interview, Tineke Strik reacted to the Hungarian government’s criticism that the European Parliament seeks to cut off funds from Hungarian citizens. She emphasised that the EU’s actions aim to protect the Hungarian people from the concentration of power and corruption. Strik criticised the misuse of EU funds, which she argues are benefiting corrupt politicians and oligarchs rather than citizens. She highlighted the need for greater transparency and support for Hungarian movements fighting for the rule of law, warning that lifting the current freeze on funds would only enable further corruption.
Strik also acknowledged the negative impact on citizens, such as Hungarian students being excluded from Erasmus programmes. She called for exceptions to be made to ensure young people can experience life in free societies, which may shift public opinion. Strik stressed that ongoing reforms agreed between the Hungarian government and the European Commission must be implemented in practice, not just on paper. She urged the European Commission to take a more critical approach to ensure genuine judicial independence and effective anti-corruption measures, warning that once EU funds are unfrozen, it would be harder to halt them again if reforms are not fully realised.
Hungary has been a NATO member for 25 years, has always fulfilled its related obligations “and will continue to do so”, head of the Prime Minister’s Office Gergely Gulyas told a press conference on Thursday, in response to a question concerning recent remarks about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by the Prime Minister’s political director Balázs Orbán.
Commenting on recent reactions to the director’s remarks by certain ambassadors in Hungary, he said he considered it “tasteless and cynical that the ambassadors of those countries are edging into a dispute about history in connection with 1956 that did nothing … when the Russians shot Budapest to pieces and crushed Hungary’s fight for freedom.”
The political director’s remarks were prone to misinterpretation, Gulyástold a government press briefing held after two cabinet away-days in southern Hungary. Asked about the possible personnel consequences of the director’s remarks, Gulyás said “the issue is closed on our part”. HEREwe covered the issue. In THISarticle, you may read about the foreign consequences, for example, the joint démarche of the German and French ambassadors.
Photo: FB/Balázs Orbán
Meanwhile, Gulyás said the appearance of Peter Magyar and his Tisza Party in Hungarian politics had brought with itself “unprecedented aggression and arrogance”. Magyar, he said, outdid Democratic Coalition leader Ferenc Gyurcsányin terms of making false statements. During the election campaign, Magyar called for the cancellation of the right for immunity and also said he would not become an MEP, Gulyás said. Since then, after he was suspected of theft, he became a great supporter of the right for immunity, became an MEP and “does not want the EP to suspend his immunity”, he added.
On the subject of the current situation in the Middle East, Gulyás noted that the government has asked all Hungarians staying in Lebanon to register for consular protection and to leave the country as soon as possible. The government “will help everyone get home”, he said, adding that commercial travel was still an option, he said.
EU member states have a right for defence
Destabilising wars led to migration pressure, and Hungary will do everything to prevent an influx of migrants, he said, adding that Europe was particularly susceptible to migration from the region.
Gulyás said most EU member states were in agreement that Israel “has the right to defend itself”, and “serious discussions” about how to find an exit route from the current situation were under way.
In response to a question about concerns voiced by certain German politicians who were concerned about the risks of their secret services cooperating with Vienna in the event of Freedom Party of Austria forming a government, Gulyas congratulated the FPO on its victory in the election, adding that it was “good news for us too”, and the whole of Europe, because “they belong to the Patriots for Europe party family”.
The winner gets an opportunity to form a government in every civilised democracy, and “I believe the same will happen in Austria”. “All Austrian governments are our partners and allies, and if the FPO becomes a part or leading force in the government, it will mean the same excellent cooperation also in these areas,” he added.
PM Orbán will visit his friend facing criminal procedure
Gulyás also said Orbán was planning to attend a rally announced by Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini. The former interior minister had demonstrated that both land and maritime external borders could be protected, he added. “He did not commit a crime,” he said, and instead of “launching a criminal procedure against him, he should be awarded for this”, Gulyás added, expressing hope that the court would decide in his favour.
Salvini very proud that Orbán will attend his rally this weekend:
In response to a comment about the European Commission referring Hungary to the Court of Justice of the European Union in connection with Hungary’s sovereignty protection law, he said the Sovereignty Protection Office did not have powers of enforcement and so it could not even commit the violation of basic EU treaties listed in the report.
Meanwhile, when it came to Romania’s accession to the Schengen area, he said, Hungary was the country’s “biggest supporter”. He said there was a “realistic chance” of the matter being put to a vote under Hungary’s EU presidency, but this would mean Austria and the Netherlands not using their veto.
What about the Orbán mines getting money from the Belgrade-Budapest railway upgrade?
Regarding church scandals in Hungary in recent years, he said all illegality was condemnable, and all churches must take action to combat it, including the Catholic Church.
Asked about a company belonging to the prime minister’s father which is a supplier of the Budapest-Belgrade railway line under construction, Gulyás said details of the investment had been decided ten years ago, and that the main contractor had nothing to do with the prime minister’s family. The government, he added, did not “have a say” concerning who the main contractor “ordered stones from”.
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The people and countries in the Western Balkans “deserve more” than what they receive from Brussels; “these countries should already be in the European Union”, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Friday.
North Macedonia’s EU accession
Orbán told a press conference after a Hungary-North Macedonia joint government meeting in Ohrid that the most important topic of the meeting was the EU accession of North Macedonia.
The position of Hungary which currently fulfils the EU rotating presidency is well known: the stability of the entire Western Balkans region, and its integration in the EU, is not only in Hungary’s interests but it is a vested interest of the entire EU, Orbán said.
Enlargement is not a problem or a challenge but a great opportunity for EU members, he said. The EU has lost its dynamism for economic development and enlargement is an obvious means to regain it, he added.
Photo: MTI
Hungary is not glad to see that purely out of geopolitical reasons Ukraine and Moldova have received a “fast-track” approach, and a merit-based approach has been pushed to the back, he added.
Orbán said it was undeserved and unjust that countries having worked on EU accession based on their merits have been pushed to the back.
It is a priority for the Hungarian presidency that the EU integration of the Western Balkans stays on the agenda, he added.
Orbán said that in order to ensure this, he was proposing an intergovernmental conference to open chapters or failing that a political intergovernmental conference.
Double standards?
Orbán also noted that North Macedonia had received EU candidacy together with Croatia in 2005. “Since then Croatia has become an EU member while accession talks with North Macedonia have not even started,” he said. He added that it was “a historic mistake” by the EU, adding that plans to start accession talks with Albania earlier could even increase that mistake. “There is no moral or political reason” for pushing North Macedonia back, he said.
Orbán noted the partnership between Hungary’s ruling parties and North Macedonia’s VMRO. He said “partisan affairs should never be mixed up with state affairs” but added that “it is always good if two friendly parties are on government” in two countries, and extended an invitation to PM Hristijan Mickoski and his government to Hungary. He also added that the two countries were marking the 30th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations this year.
Photo: MTI
On the subject of bilateral cooperation, Orbán noted Hungary’s assistance in fighting wildfires in North Macedonia earlier this year. He said the Hungarian assistance had been provided in return from North Macedonia’s helping Hungary “especially with its fight against migration in 2015-2016”.
North Macedonia has important role in stopping illegal migration
Should North Macedonia fail to protect its borders, “we will have to fight along the Serbia-Hungary border,” he added, and pledged “all necessary assistance” to North Macedonia with its efforts. He also noted that some 2,400 Hungarian police officers had patrolled North Macedonia’s borders and prevented 17,000 illegal entry attempts.
Orbán added that Hungary was ready for financial cooperation with North Macedonia and viewed the credit extended to the country, if Skopje needs it, “as a kind of investment in Hungary’s security”.
Answering a question, Orbán warned that
“migration is a phenomenon that will stay with us in the next decades”
and added that “there is some deep demographic restructuring underlying migration.” The prime minister argued that “the demographic potential” of the northern Mediterranean was “far below that of the southern side”. Migration is rooted in that imbalance, he said, and warned that an expected demographic boom in Africa should also be considered. “Unless we assist countries in the Sahel region, hundreds of millions will reach the Mediterranean,” he said, adding that cooperation over migratory issues should be planned “for not just one or two but forty or fifty years.” He insisted that strategic partnerships should be built with peoples of the Western Balkans to fight illegal migration “from Greece up to Serbia and Hungary.” He also warned that “migration could stab us in the back from Western Europe” because western countries “fail to protect their borders”. “If we want to preserve our nations, cultural identity including Christianity, we must protect ourselves and find countries that could be partners such as North Macedonia and Serbia,” Orbán said.
Photo: MTI
Europe is “in a state of hypocrisy”
In response to a question, Orbán said Europe was “in a state of hypocrisy” concerning the issue of migration. In the West, they have placed a wager on Willkommenskultur, they believe they would benefit from migration, and so instead of preventing it, they want to manage it, he said.
“We have always had our doubts about it,” despite some larger countries choosing that path, he added. “The bitter fruits of this choice are now ripening and they should change their policy but it is not easy,” he added.
Orbán said western countries were currently in the phase of “changing tracks .. but I have never had any doubts that they would sooner or later arrive in our street where we would be waiting for them”.
In response to a question on North Macedonia-Bulgaria relations, he said the most important next step for North Macedonia’s accession was to reach an agreement with Bulgaria. He said Hungary had a proposal on the issue and it was ready to talk about it also with Bulgaria if the sides so wanted.
Photo: MTI
Orbán said it was a mistake that North Macedonia was still not an EU member and that it had been separated from the talks to be started with another candidate country. The way to correct this mistake would be to start talks also with North Macedonia before the end of this year, he said.
No Chinese credit to North Macedonia through Hungary
Answering another question, he said Hungary wasn’t providing Chinese credit to North Macedonia, as that was earmarked for specific Hungarian developments. “We can’t provide Chinese money, but we are providing European money,” he added.
In response to a question concerning the US elections, he said “already in 2015-16 we were supporters of President Trump”. There is a rule in Hungary under which “we interfere in other countries election campaign only to the extent that they interfere in ours,” he said. “This opens up great opportunities for us in the case of America,” he added.
He said the US played a key role for world peace, and “if there is a pro-peace president, then there is peace in the world but if there is a pro-war or weak president then there is mess and war”.
“Donald Trump has been president before and during his time the world was a safer place,” he said. “We need peace and a president who brings peace,” he added.
Hungarian finance minister meets with counterpart from North Macedonia
Finance Minister Mihaly Varga met with his counterpart from North Macedonia, Gordana Dimitrieska-Kocoska, in Ohrid on Friday. The sides discussed strengthening bilateral financial and economic ties, the Finance Ministry said in a statement. Varga said the aim was to step up cooperation in the area of tax and customs administration, supporting the entry of Hungarian companies onto the local market.
Bilateral trade between Hungary and North Macedonia exceeded USD 830m last year, he added. Hungary is also supporting North Macedonia through a tax policy working group, sharing experience in areas such as cracking down on tax evasion, digitalising tax administration and setting up a competitive tax system, Varga said. He added that learning about Hungary’s efforts to raise the share of its state debt in the hands of local households could benefit North Macedonia.
He said Hungary’s presidency of the Council of the European Union was treating the accession of states in the Western Balkans as a priority. The EU needs new energy, and enlargement in the region could ease the EU’s competitiveness problems, he added.
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Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó met with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, in New York on Wednesday, his ministry said in a statement.
Maintaining ties with Russia on the basis of mutual respect, and advancing cooperation in areas that are not affected by sanctions is in Hungary’s interest, Szijjártósaid after the meeting.
He added that the Russian foreign minister always strived to accommodate the requests of the Hungarian government and was positive and open to resolving important matters affecting the sides.
Szijjártó said another “milestone” had been reached in the expansion of the Paks nuclear power plant with the start of full excavation. The first concrete at the site will be poured by year-end, which is necessary for the project’s “under construction” designation according to National Atomic Energy Agency standards, he added.
Hungary is counting on cooperation with Russia to extend the lifespan of the existing four blocks at Paks, he said.
Photo: FB/Szijjártó
Hungarian FM acknowledged Russia’s flexibility
Szijjártó acknowledged Russia’s flexibility in the matter of ensuring Hungary’s crude supply after measures by Ukraine threatened transit deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia.
Speaking about a visit by the Ukrainian foreign minister to Budapest in the coming week, Szijjártó said minority rights would be on the agenda, pointing to the deprivation of some rights of the Hungarian minority living there. He added that Hungary expected those rights to be restored.
He said the talks would also touch on economic cooperation, including cooperation on transportation and infrastructure developments.
Szijjártó reiterated Hungary’s pro-peace position and hope for a ceasefire, peace talks and the end of the war as soon as possible.
Szijjártó: ‘Fastest way to peace’ the real issue
The real issue regarding the war in Ukraine is to find the fastest way to peace, Péter Szijjártó, the minister of foreign affairs and trade, told the 79th UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday local time. “Unfortunately, I have to start with saying that we live in an age of dangers,” Szijjártó said.
After the fall of communism and Hungary’s Euro-Atlantic integration, “we would not have thought that we would be facing again the phantom of cold war,” he said.
As a neighbour of Ukraine, Hungary “has been living in the shadow of war” and facing its consequences by accepting 1.3 million refugees from the country, Szijjártósaid. “We have been paying the price of a war which is not our war, and for the outbreak of which we do not bear any kind of responsibility.”
“I think that after almost a thousand days, the real question is not what we think of the war, the real question is how peace could be made. Or even more precisely … we have to ask which is the fastest way to peace. Because we have to pick that one,” Szijjártó said, adding that Hungary wanted no more destruction.
The success of the European Union and the international community’s response to the war must also be weighed carefully, he said. “And if we are honest with ourselves, we have to say that practically nothing has worked out … [that] was based on an assumption that there might be a solution on the battlefield.”
Weapons deliveries made no sense
The international community must also ask whether weapons deliveries “made any sense”, Szijjártó said. “And obviously, they have made no sense … because weapon deliveries have not changed the situation on the battlefield and they have not brought us closer to peace either.” Weapon deliveries had only increased the number of weapons on either side and prolonged the war, he said.
He also called on those deciding on whether weapons from the West would be allowed to be used in “strategic depth in Russia” to make responsible decisions and to consider the danger of escalation such a step would bring.
Szijjártó said Hungary was deeply concerned over the “open and shameless reference of the possible use of nuclear weapons”.
Seeking a solution at the negotiating table would save many lives, Szijjártó said. “Therefore Hungary argues in favour of an immediate ceasefire and the start of peace talks. This would be the fastest way to peace.”
The minister said the “international liberal mainstream” had turned “peace into a curse word”. Those arguing in favour of peace “will be immediately attacked and stigmatised”, he said.
He called on the UN to play a bigger role in the diplomatic efforts to end the war, as it provides a legitimate forum for warring parties to negotiate.
Szijjártó said Hungary considered it “nonsense and unacceptable” that representatives of world powers were not talking to each other, as that posed national security threats as well as the danger that the world would be divided into blocs again.
East-West cooperation is important
The world could benefit greatly from a “civilised East to West cooperation”, he said, adding that Hungary’s foreign policy was pragmatic and patriotic.
Global politics needed a fundamental change and must return to the principle of mutual respect by once again using dialogue and diplomacy as its most important tools, he said.
The fact that the supporters of peace were in the majority in the UN gave cause for hope, and Hungary was proud to be a member of “this global majority for peace”, he said. “And we are ready to support all global initiatives which are aiming at reaching peace, and we are ready to discuss all peace plans.”
At the same time, Szijjártó said it was “unacceptable that some countries would like to give exclusivity to one or another peace plan… We absolutely want all peace plans to be discussed,” he said, commending China and Brazil for drafting one and expressing hope that that peace plan would also be on the agenda.
He said economic sanctions were useless and hurt certain European countries more than they did Russia.
Brussels committed a huge mistake
Regarding illegal migration, Szijjártó said Brussels had committed a “huge mistake” when trying to manage rather than stop migration. Hungary stood by its right to determine whom to allow into the country, he said. International law said all those forced to flee their homes had the right to temporary asylum in the first safe country, “but not on the second, the third or the fourth one”. “Hungary will continue to stop the flow of illegal migration on its border, through which basically we save Europe from further huge security-related challenges”, he said. “In the meantime, it is insane” that Hungary had to pay hundreds of millions of euros in fines “because of complying with international law”, Szijjártó said.
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Czech President criticises PM Orbán for undermining European unity amid Ukraine conflict
Putin’s minister responsible for healthcare issues will meet with Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó today in Budapest. Reuters was surprised to hear about the visit since Western visits of Russian ministers are a rarity after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Mihály Varga hosted the President of the Turkic Investment Fund in Budapest. Will Hungary borrow more money from Eastern states?
Odd move: Putin’s minister in Budapest
According to portfolio.hu, Russian healthcare minister Mikhail Murashko will arrive in Budapest today to conduct negotiations with Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó. This is not the first time he has visited Hungary after the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Mr Murashko was here in July 2023 as the first member of the Russian government to pay an official visit to a NATO member.
Then, Péter Szijjártó said that Hungary would maintain relationships with Russia because that is the national interest. Szijjártó added that Russia was a trustworthy gas deliverer and Hungary needed Moscow for the country’s energy safety.
Reuters, reporting about the second Murashko visit, highlighted it was unfamiliar that one of Putin’s ministers visits an EU or NATO member state. Based on the relevant statement, Szijjártó and Murashko will talk at a Russian-Hungarian business forum today in Budapest. However, they did not share any further details.
Putin and Orbán in Moscow in July. Another move that surprised both Washington and Brussels. Photo: FB/Orbán
UPDATE: Europe does business with Russians in secret, FM Szijjártó wrote
The Russia-Hungary Economic Cooperation Committee already started its session in Budapest. Szijjártó shared a post on his official Facebook page writing that 78 companies participate in the forum and they would continue to develop Russian-Hungarian cooperation in all areas not affected by the Brussels sanctions. He added that the entire Europe did business with Russia, but they tried to keep it secret.
Photo: FB/Szijjártó
Will a new Eastern loan rescue Hungary’s economy?
Finance Minister Mihály Varga met with Baghdad Amreyev, the president of the Turkic Investment Fund, in his office in Budapest on Thursday, his ministry said. After the meeting, Varga noted that Hungary had broken with unilateral economic policy 15 years earlier when it announced its Eastern Opening policy. Hungary’s policy of economic neutrality has made it an “outstanding” exporter, relative to its size, while it boasts a high investment rate and a competitive tax system, he added.
Hungary has become a member of the Turkic Investment Fund in July. Photo: FB/Mihály Varga
He said Hungary’s ties with the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS) were growing stronger, adding that bilateral trade with OTS members now exceeded USD 5bn. Those strong ties can be developed further in the areas of energy, water management, farming and education, he added.
Chinese loan to be spent on modernisation
Hungary quietly took out a EUR 1 billion loan from China in July. Later, it became clear that the Orbán cabinet would like to spend that money on the installation of electric vehicle charging stations in rural areas. The Hungarian government regularly states that they would not take sides in the escalating East-West conflict despite our NATO and EU membership. Instead, they would like to be a bridge connecting the two camps. Since Hungary struggles to get EU funds due to rule-of-law concerns and infringement procedures, the budget needs other sources to back investments. Because of the falling consumption, the budget balance broke this year, so the Orbán cabinet is happy to receive any alternative financial help to fill the budgetary holes. And the EU recovery and most of the development funds are still out of reach.
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Featured image: the Orbán-Putin summit, an episode of Orbán’s so-called ‘peace mission’ at the beginning of Hungary’s EU presidency, in July in Moscow.
The European Union’s pro-migration policies pose a danger while Bishkek’s fight against terrorism means security for Europe, the foreign minister said in Bishkek on Thursday.
Europe cannot rely on the EU concerning migration
Speaking at a joint press conference with his Kyrgyz counterpart, Jeenbek Kulubayev, Péter Szijjártósaid both countries were paying the price of conflicts they were not responsible for. Hungary and Kyrgyzstan were members of the “global pro-peace majority” urging an immediate ceasefire and peace talks in the war in Ukraine, he said, according to a ministry statement.
Szijjártó praised Kyrgyz efforts in the fight against terrorism, and said the global terror threat was “larger than ever” due to the opportunities illegal migration offered to potentials attackers.
He said the EU’s pro-migration policy was encouraging immigrants to start their journey towards the continent, and terrorists “take advantage of the flood of people”. Hungary “sees all countries that prioritise the fight against terrorism the way Kyrgyzstan does as an ally”, he said.
While holding the European Union’s rotating presidency, Hungary is also supporting the start of negotiations with Kyrgyzstan on easing visa requirements and on signing an enhanced partnership and cooperation agreement.
Szijjártó said that EU officials’ criticism levelled at Kyrgyzstan alleging circumventing sanctions against Russia was “wholly unfounded”.
Hungary, Kyrgyzstan links between the East and West
“Hungary sees EU sanctions as harmful, dangerous and absolutely useless, harming member states more than Russia,” he said. “EU leaders are clearly not prepared to recognise that [sanctions] were a bad decision, and they prefer to accuse others, Kyrgyzstan among them.”
Hungary would always support Kyrgyzstan in working as a link between the East and West, Szijjártó said. Hungary believes every country has the sovereign right to root out external interference and influence targeting the will of the people, he added.
Meanwhile, he said Central Asia’s economic importance was growing, especially in transport and energy security.
He welcomed that trade between Hungary and Kyrgyzstan has doubled.
Hungarian companies are gaining ground in Kyrgyzstan in health industries, food and agriculture, and there is a joint development fund financing joint ventures in agriculture and vehicle manufacturing, the minister said. He said he hoped that the joint project planning to build water plants would also be successful.
Hungary is also offering 200 grants to Kyrgyz students wishing to study in Hungary, he said.
Hungary begins talks with EC on CJEU’s migration policy ruling
Hungary will not pay the fine imposed on it by the Court of Justice of the European Union, but has entered into talks in an attempt to resolve the situation, János Bóka, the European affairs minister, said after a meeting of the European Parliament’s constitutional committee (AFCO) in Strasbourg on Thursday. Speaking to Hungarian reporters in connection with a 200 million euro fine and a daily 1 million euro penalty Hungary has been ordered to pay by the CJEU for failing to comply with the EU’s asylum regulations, Bóka said Hungary has started talks on the matter with Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson.
The minister said he had made it clear at their talks that Hungary will not pay the fine.
“We agreed on the communication channels we’ll be using to discuss the implementation of the ruling going forward,” he said. “We’ve outlined a schedule according to which the talks will continue.”
Hungary, Bóka added, aimed to resolve the matter and have the daily 1 million euro penalty lifted.
Hungary’s position on the implementation of the ruling derived from the political will expressed in a referendum, National Consultation surveys and elections. “This is a very firm and clear mandate for us,” the minister said. “It is along this mandate that we have to continue the talks with the European Commission.”
Commenting on the AFCO meeting held on the sidelines of a plenary session of the European Parliament, Bóka said he had presented the priorities of the Hungarian EU presidency and briefed the committee’s members on the progress that was expected during the Hungarian presidency in the matters that fall under their respective areas of competence. Most of the questions he had received, however, had to do with the internal political situation in Hungary “and were open political attacks against Hungary and the Hungarian people”, he said.
Regarding comments made at the hearing by German Green MEP Daniel Freund about Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s visits to Moscow and Beijing this past summer being a violation of EU rules, Bóka said the European public needed to be made aware that the MEP’s remarks “do not correspond to reality”.
Official: Hungary seeks exemption from EU asylum, migration rules
Hungary is seeking an exemption from the application of EU asylum and migration rules since, otherwise, “Brussels would also turn Hungary into a country of immigrants”, the parliamentary state secretary of the EU affairs ministry said on Thursday.
Pál Zsigmond Barna said in a post on Facebook that Hungary was prepared to do everything to make sure that it was spared “flawed and doomed EU migration legislation”. He noted that in a letter to Ylva Johansson, the EU home affairs commissioner, the Dutch government has asked for an exemption from EU asylum rules with the aim of introducing the strictest asylum policy in Europe.With a view to curbing illegal migration as quickly as possible, the Hungarian government is joining the Netherlands and will take the necessary legal and administrative steps, he said. Hungary, he added, was nevertheless committed to the Schengen system, and German border closures caused by poor immigration policy now imperilled free movement. The state secretary hailed Hungary’s model of protecting the external borders, assessing asylum applications beyond the border, dealing with human traffickers decisively, ensuring that deportations work, and sending aid to migration trouble spots.Hungary has met its Schengen obligations and has spent more than two billion euros on border protection, helping Europe as a whole, he said, noting that Hungary had not received “a penny from Brussels” for doing so. Also, Brussels was still “punishing Hungarians” by requiring Hungary to “set up a quota of thousands of migrants and migrant camps”, he said. Moreover, he called the EU court of justice’s ruling requiring Hungary to pay a fine of 200 million euros as well as one million euros each day “unjust and outrageous”.
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European competitiveness is in steep decline and will irreversibly fall behind that of the US and China unless the bloc is ready to take decisive action, PM Orbán said on Thursday, after talks with Luc Frieden, his Luxembourgian counterpart.
PM Orbán meets Luc Frieden
Orbán said he discussed with Frieden, who paid the visit to mark the 100th anniversary of diplomatic ties, the situation of the EU, including the Draghi Report reflecting on the bloc’s declining competitiveness.
“The situation is urgent,” Orbán said, adding that Hungary and Luxembourg both had a vested interest in boosting competitiveness.
At the talks, Orbán presented the current Hungarian EU presidency‘s draft competitiveness pact, to be discussed with all EU member states and presented for approval in November.
Orbán and Frieden agreed on the necessity of EU enlargement in the Western Balkans, and shared the position that a common EU Africa plan should be drafted.
Orbán said that unless the EU urgently prepared an Africa plan, the continent would only be a source of problems for the bloc, even though it could also be a source of economic advantage.
Hungary has chosen some African countries to which it can provide assistance through close bilateral cooperation “rather than waiting for the EU”, the prime minister noted.
He said Frieden agreed on the need for such individual attempts alongside a comprehensive African plan.
Frieden noted that in addition to the long-standing diplomatic relations between their two countries, Hungary also held the EU’s rotating presidency, adding that the need for continued dialogue was another reason for his visit to Budapest.
He reaffirmed his support for the Hungarian presidency’s stance on the need to focus on Europe’s competitiveness as a priority issue.
He called for deepening the common market and using private and state resources for the digitalisation of the European economies. Also, Europe must develop a defence industry and agricultural producers must be protected while avoiding overregulation, he added.
Frieden said Luxembourg supported the Hungarian presidency on economic issues.
On another subject, he said migration was a complex problem to which there were no simple, one-size-fits-all solutions. He said Luxembourg backed the EU’s pact on migration and asylum, adding, at the same time, that further steps were needed for harmonious social coexistence.
Meanwhile, Frieden said Hungary’s regional experiences regarding the war in Ukraine were important and concerning EU enlargement he also called it important to ensure a European perspective for the Western Balkans.
Praising the EU’s borderless Schengen system, Frieden called for strengthening cooperation among member states’ law enforcement agencies, adding that the external borders should be protected in a way that allowed for people “to live happily within the EU”.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán met Milorad Dodik, the president of the Republika Srpska of Bosnia-Herzegovina, in Budapest on Thursday, the PM’s press chief said.
Orbán meets Milorad Dodik
The Hungarian PM and Dodik discussed the EU integration of the Western Balkans and Hungary’s opportunities to further the process while holding the rotating presidency of the EU, Bertalan Havasi said.
Sándor Lezsák, the deputy parliament speaker, paid an official visit to Kazakhstan on Sept 8-10, Parliament’s press office said on Wednesday.
Deputy parliament speaker visits Kazakhstan
In Astana, Lezsak met for talks Albert Rau, deputy chairman and member of the Majilis, the lower house of Kazakh parliament, and they reviewed bilateral relations including cooperation between the two countries’ parliaments. They also discussed international affairs including the Russia-Ukraine war and the situation of national minorities with a view to the that fact that Rau is of German origin, the office said in a statement.
Lezsák also met Kubanychbek Omuraliev, Secretary-General of the Organisation of Turkic States, Sultan Raev, Secretary General of the International Organisation of Turkic Culture, Aktoty Raimkulova, President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation and Mehmet Sureyya Er, Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States and they agreed on further enhancing cultural cooperation. They also agreed on plans to jointly organise a festival of Turkic Culture Hungary would host in Lakitelek in 2025.
The deputy speaker was a visiting guest at the ongoing World Nomad Games and he congratulated Hungarian athlete László Koczka on winning a gold medal in archery as well as the other Hungarian athletes.
Hungary is building a comprehensive strategic partnership with Chad encompassing the areas of defence, the economy and education, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in Budapest on Monday, adding that this would further strengthen the country’s stabilising role in the Sahel.
Szijjártó talks about partnership with Chad
At a joint press conference with counterpart Abderaman Koulamallah, Szijjártó highlighted the Chadian president’s “historic” first-time visit to Hungary.
“We’re talking about two countries that devote special attention to preserving their sovereignty, two countries that take a clear stand for peace,” Szijjártó said, according to a ministry statement. He said both countries believed that wars should be settled with negotiation rather than weapons.
Szijjártó said armed conflicts have caused serious challenges for both Hungary and Chad in recent years, and both countries rejected any steps in international politics that risked escalation in the ongoing conflicts.
He said Europe faced a number of security challenges, with one of the main ones being illegal migration along with the growing threat of terrorism that was closely related to it. He said illegal migration into the European Union could not be stopped without cooperation with the Sahel region.
“We know full well the importance of the stabilising role Chad plays in this critical region of Africa, so it is also as the country holding the rotating presidency of the European Union that we do our part in developing the cooperation between the European Union and the Sahel, as well as in stopping illegal migration,” he said, adding that Hungary was building a strategic partnership with Chad.
“We have signed the strategic cooperation agreement on this along with the cooperation agreements on defence and animal husbandry,” Szijjártó said. “This is a comprehensive partnership that has a defence, economic and education pillar as well.”
He said Hungary is prepared to launch a 150-200 million euro tied aid programme to support agriculture, the food industry, and the development of water supply, education and digitalisation in the central African country.
Also, the Hungary Helps humanitarian scheme is launching a one million US dollar aid programme to prevent the spread of infections and improve health care in Chad, he added.
Szijjártó said the Hungarian government has initiated the transfer of a 14 million euro contribution from the European Peace Facility to support the development of Chad’s defence capacities, adding that EU ambassadors are scheduled to discuss the proposal on Sept 26.
He said that under their defence cooperation pact, Hungary and Chad will work to ensure that their exchanges of knowledge and experiences can contribute to the success of the fight against terrorism.
Meanwhile, Szijjártó said Hungary will offer university scholarships to 25 Chadian students each year.
He also announced that Hungary will elevate its diplomatic mission in N’Djamena to embassy status.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán held talks with Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, the president of Chad, at a working dinner in his office on Sunday evening, his press chief said.
Orbán holds talks with Chad president
Orbán will hold further bilateral talks with the Chadian president who is on a two-day official visit to Hungary, Bertalan Havasi said in a statement.
The topics of their talks include the fight against illegal migration in which Chad is a key country in Africa. Hungary is building cooperation with Chad with a view to the fact that migrants coming from Africa to Europe cannot be stopped without the involvement of countries in the Sahel region, he said.
The sides will also discuss cooperation in the fight against international terrorism and exchange their countries’ experience and knowledge in the area of defence, and possibilities in mutual training and operations.
