european union
March 12, 2010, 09:47 CET
Foreign minister denies report V4 plans EU boycott
The Visegrad Four - Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland - has not threatened to stay out of the European Union's new foreign service, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Balazs told MTI on Thursday, denying a Russian media report earlier in... [read complete entry]
March 08, 2010, 10:25 CET
Radical nationalists urge "eastern" turn in foreign policy
The radical nationalist Jobbik party presented ideas on Friday for a foreign policy that would orientate Hungary towards the East, the party's new foreign policy expert told reporters. Marton Gyongyosi said foreign policy should be based on national interests and... [read complete entry]
March 03, 2010, 09:34 CET
Visegrád Four FMs discuss EU Eastern Partnership in Budapest
Foreign ministers of the Visegrad Four countries - Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia - met in Budapest for talks on specific programmes under the European Union's Eastern Partnership on Tuesday. The EU aims to help its eastern neighbours with... [read complete entry]
February 26, 2010, 09:58 CET
Hungary to assume specific responsibility in EU Danube Strategy, says PM
Hungary assumes a specific responsibility for drafting the EU's Danube Strategy as the document will be up for approval during its EU presidency in the first half of 2011, Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai said in Budapest on Thursday. Opening a... [read complete entry]
February 17, 2010, 10:25 CET
Hungary supports Serbia's EU integration, parliamentary committee head says
Hungary supports the accession of Serbia with the European Union regardless of what government is in power, Chairman of the Hungarian parliament's EU Affairs Committee Matyas Eorsi told the body at its session on Tuesday. The meeting was attended by... [read complete entry]
February 15, 2010, 10:14 CET
Strasbourg launches inquiry into Roma segregation in schools
The Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights is asking the Hungarian government questions regarding discrimination and segregation of the Roma in its education system, MTI learned on Friday. Two Hungarian Roma men, both aged 23 and residents of the village... [read complete entry]
February 05, 2010, 10:13 CET
EP committee approves Hungary's commissioner-designate
Laszlo Andor, Hungary's European Union Commissioner-designate "gave an adequate impression of his aptitude to be a member of the College of Commissioners" before the European Parliament's Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, according to a letter by the committee's coordinators... [read complete entry]
February 05, 2010, 10:09 CET
Hungary not seen as driving agenda during EU presidency
Hungary's EU presidency in 2011 will offer a good opportunity for improving the country's image but will not be a means to driving its own agenda, a security policy expert told national daily Nepszava on Friday. "It is an illusion... [read complete entry]
January 22, 2010, 10:05 CET
Next EU trio presidency with Hungary unveils programme
The ambassadors of Spain, Belgium and Hungary, presidents of the European Union in the next 18 months, presented their programme at a joint press conference at the European Commission's representative office in Paris on Thursday. Spain, the first of the... [read complete entry]
January 14, 2010, 09:59 CET
EU Commissioner rejects collusion charge by Fidesz MEP
Outgoing EU Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquin Almunia at a hearing on Tuesday rejected a charge by a Hungarian Fidesz MEP that he had helped the Gyurcsany government to regain power by extending a deadline for amending the country's... [read complete entry]
January 12, 2010, 04:07 CET
Is Banjai unwittingly setting up Fidesz for a euro-fuelled re-election in 2014?
On Sunday Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai stressed that Hungary could beat the remaining central European countries already not in the eurozone into the club, provided Fidesz doesn't blow it. My guess is that Bajnai was not really playing politics in... [read complete entry]
January 11, 2010, 12:03 CET
FM says EC position supports Hungarian worries over Slovak language law
An evaluation by the legal service of the Secretariat General of the European Commission published on Thursday justifies a number of Hungary's concerns about the implementation guidelines of the contested Slovak state language act, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Balazs told... [read complete entry]
January 07, 2010, 10:46 CET
Hungary's EC candidate focuses on employment, social policy
The European Commission must focus on employment and social policy due to the impact of the economic crisis, Hungary's candidate to the European Commission Laszlo Andor said at his parliamentary hearing on Wednesday. Andor, who is expected to be given... [read complete entry]
December 30, 2009, 10:45 CET
Slovak Foreign Minister expresses regret over tiff with Hungary
The past six months in relations between Hungary and Slovakia were especially hard and unpleasant "and what happened damaged both countries in the eyes of the world," Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcák said in an interview with a Slovak website.... [read complete entry]
December 23, 2009, 09:46 CET
Hungarian government welcomes Serbia's EU membership application
The Hungarian government welcomes that Serbia has submitted its official application to join the European Union, the government spokesman's office told MTI in a statement on Tuesday. Belgrade's decision is a "historic milestone": the country's joining the EU is a... [read complete entry]
December 23, 2009, 09:42 CET
Socialist leader calls 2009 year of economic housecleaning
Hungarian Socialist Party leader Ildiko Lendvai has called 2009 a year of successful house-cleaning in the economy, and 2010 a year of responsible decision. The government has managed "to remove all skeletons from the cupboard", and compiled a transparent budget... [read complete entry]
December 18, 2009, 10:05 CET
MSZP to plead with European Socialists over Slovak language law
Hungary's ruling Socialist party will ask the European Socialist Party's president to launch an investigation of Slovakia's latest steps in connection with its controversial state language law, the party's PM candidate Attila Mesterhazy told MTI on Thursday. Mesterhazy said that... [read complete entry]
December 17, 2009, 10:10 CET
Slovakia breaking deal with Hungary over language law, gov't spokesman says
Slovakia's adopting the guidelines to its controversial state language act on Wednesday is seen as a violation of a recent agreement between the two countries, the spokesman of the Hungarian government told MTI on Wednesday. Domokos Szollar said that the... [read complete entry]
December 17, 2009, 10:09 CET
Hungary ready to turn to European Court over Slovak barring of President
The European Commission agreed with Hungary in so far as Slovakia had mistakenly referred to community guidelines when it denied Hungarian President Laszlo Solyom entry in August, Foreign Affairs Spokeswoman Zsuzsanna Matrai told MTI on Wednesday. President Laszlo Solyom had... [read complete entry]
December 16, 2009, 09:35 CET
Supreme Court upholds ban on Magyar Gárda
The Supreme Court dissolved the far-right Magyar Gárda society and movement on Tuesday, upholding an earlier ruling issued by the Budapest Court of Appeals. The prosecutor's office launched a civil lawsuit to have the group dissolved two years ago, arguing... [read complete entry]
December 11, 2009, 09:44 CET
EU approves outline for trio presidency including Hungary
The General Affairs Council of the European Union has approved the programme for the Spanish-Belgian-Hungarian presidency in 2010-11, the Foreign Ministry told MTI on Thursday. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Balazs said at the council session that the trio will start... [read complete entry]
December 02, 2009, 09:39 CET
European Court of Human Rights cites Hungary for curbing free speech
Two top Hungarian courts were wrong to order a Hungarian historian to retract an article and pay legal costs after he wrote an article critical of the right-wing media, the European Court of Human Rights said on Tuesday. Laszlo Karsai... [read complete entry]
December 02, 2009, 09:30 CET
Upcoming EU presidents to update judicial cooperation
Updating EU judicial cooperation will be among the priorities of the Spain-Belgium-Hungary trio presidency, representatives of the three countries announced at a press conference in Brussels on Tuesday. Other priorities will include implementing the EU's Stockholm programme and reviewing community... [read complete entry]
November 30, 2009, 11:40 CET
"Hungary a frontrunner in fiscal stability," Bajnai tells Newsweek
Hungary has become a frontrunner in terms of fiscal stability, Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai said in an interview published by the online edition of Newsweek on Friday. Asked about the impact of the economic crisis in Hungary, he said, "Hungarians... [read complete entry]
November 30, 2009, 10:41 CET
EC Commissioner designate gets employment and social affairs post
Laszlo Andor, Hungary's EC Commissioner designate, will get the employment and social affairs post, it was announced in Brussels on Friday. An economist by profession, Andor, 43, has been a member of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development board,... [read complete entry]
November 26, 2009, 11:28 CET
European Parliament president begins official visit to Hungary
European Parliament's President Jerzy Buzek will start a two-day visit to Hungary on Thursday at the invitation of House Speaker Bela Katona. Buzek is scheduled to meet President Laszlo Solyom, Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai, Foreign Minister Peter Balazs and leaders... [read complete entry]
November 20, 2009, 10:40 CET
Hungarian PM welcomes election of first European Council President
Hungarian Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai welcomed the election of the first President of the Council of the European Union, Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy following the EU summit in Brussels late on Thursday. When selecting the president, decision makers... [read complete entry]
November 13, 2009, 09:06 CET
Hungarian MEP proposes post of EU minority rights commissioner
Hungarian MEP Csaba Tabajdi has stressed the need for the European Commission to have a member responsible for fundamental and minority rights. "It is now up to EC President Jose Manuel Barroso to fulfill his promise and set up a... [read complete entry]
November 12, 2009, 09:48 CET
Fidesz opposes nomination of Andor as Hungary's EC commissioner
Fidesz MEPs will not support the nomination of László Andor to the EU Commission, the group announced on Wednesday. Andor has no experience in public administration, politics or EU matters, and he is unknown both in Hungary and the EU,... [read complete entry]
November 12, 2009, 09:15 CET
Budapest to host "Danube summit" in February 2010
Hungary will organise a summit on the Danube strategy in February 2010, Foreign Minister Peter Balazs announced after a Wednesday meeting of a working group making preparations for Hungary's EU presidency in 2011. The Danube strategy is a plan for... [read complete entry]
November 09, 2009, 10:42 CET
EC commissioner-designate says unconcerned about domestic politics
Hungary's new candidate for European Commissioner Laszlo Andor told Monday's Nepszabadsag daily that he expects to succeed as an European Commissioner regardless of whether a left or right wing government is in power in Hungary. "I already have experience of... [read complete entry]
November 06, 2009, 11:03 CET
Former EBRD director Andor named Hungary's nominee for EU Commission
Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai on Thursday designated László Andor, a member of the board of directors of the EBRD, to the EU Commission, saying there can be no doubt about the candidate's ability and integrity. At a joint press briefing... [read complete entry]
November 05, 2009, 10:06 CET
Bajnai to name candidate for EU commissioner by next week
Hungarian Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai will name his candidate for European commissioner by the end of next week at the latest, Government Spokesman Domokos Szollar told MTI on Wednesday. Before making a decision, Bajnai will hold a series of consultations... [read complete entry]
November 04, 2009, 09:52 CET
Bajnai welcomes Czech court ruling clearing way for Lisbon Treaty adoption
Hungarian Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai welcomed the Tuesday ruling of the Czech Constitutional Court, which declared the Lisbon Treaty compatible with the Czech Constitution, the Hungarian Government Spokesman's Office told MTI. "The Czech Constitutional Court's ruling is good news for... [read complete entry]
November 02, 2009, 09:42 CET
Christian Democrats join chorus against Czech opt-out from EU charter
The promise of granting the Czech Republic an opt-out from the European Union's Charter of Fundamental Rights can be interpreted as confirmation that the post-WWII Benes decrees would remain in place, Zsolt Semjen, head of the Christian Democratic People's Party,... [read complete entry]
October 30, 2009, 11:29 CET
Bajnai says Hungary opposes restart of Lisbon ratification process
Hungary will not stand by the reopening of the Lisbon Treaty's ratification process, Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai said after meeting his counterparts from the Visegrad Four countries (Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Czech Rep) and Slovenia in Brussels on Thursday. Speaking before... [read complete entry]
October 30, 2009, 11:15 CET
Orbán cautions EU against giving way to Czech "blackmail" on Lisbon treaty
Viktor Orban, head of Hungary's main opposition Fidesz, cautioned the European Union against giving way to what he called "the blackmailing by the Czech president" and called on the Hungarian government not to accept any concession as a result on... [read complete entry]
October 28, 2009, 09:47 CET
Socialists say they back dual citizenship for ethnic Hungarians abroad
The ruling Socialist party supports the idea of easing conditions for ethnic Hungarians who wish to apply of dual citizenship, people close to the discussions told MTI on condition of anonymity. The opposition Fidesz-Christian Democratic alliance submitted a bill on... [read complete entry]
October 27, 2009, 05:37 CET
Hungary wants out after Slovakia wants in on Czech amendmant to Lisbon Treaty
An MTI piece earlier today stated how Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Balázs wasn't exactly ecstatic about Czech President Václav Klaus's attempt to amend the Lisbon Treaty. What that piece was unclear about, however, was that Balázs's opposition to the treaty... [read complete entry]
October 27, 2009, 10:56 CET
FM says Lisbon Treaty should not be re-opened
A solution needs to be found for the introduction of the Lisbon Treaty that does not require the amendment of the treaty and the re-opening of the ratification process, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Balazs said on Monday. Balazs told a... [read complete entry]
October 15, 2009, 11:17 CET
EC declines to intervene in affair over Slovak barring of Hungarian president
Vice President of the European Commission responsible for Justice, Freedom and Security Jacques Barrot said on Wednesday that he considered the affair of Slovakia refusing to allow Hungarian President Laszlo Solyom to enter the country closed. "This is a bilateral... [read complete entry]
October 14, 2009, 09:32 CET
Main theme of Hungary 2011 EU presidency to be water
Water, as a strategic issue of the 21st century, will be a national priority theme for Hungary during its EU presidency in the first half of 2011, the head of parliament's environmental committee said at a conference on Tuesday. The... [read complete entry]
October 08, 2009, 11:23 CET
Government to nominate EBRD official as EU commissioner
Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai will nominate member of the EBRD board Andor Laszlo as the Hungarian member of the European Commission, commercial radio station InfoRadio said on Wednesday without revealing its source. Government spokeswoman Bernadett Budai declined to comment but... [read complete entry]
October 07, 2009, 09:38 CET
Western Balkan EU hopefuls top item at Budapest V4 summit
Despite the efforts of the V4 nations to speed up the EU accession process for countries of the Western Balkans, the overriding message at a meeting of the V4-plus Spain and Belgium - members of the future EU trio presidency... [read complete entry]
October 06, 2009, 10:27 CET
Visegrad Four foreign ministers to meet in Budapest today
The foreign ministers of the Visegrad Four countries - Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia - will meet in Budapest on Tuesday to discuss the situation of the West Balkan states. The Visegrad Four countries are committed advocates of the... [read complete entry]
October 05, 2009, 11:04 CET
Hungarian PM, opposition welcome Irish passage of EU Lisbon treaty
Hungary's prime minister on Saturday welcomed the outcome of the Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, saying that the EU could become more efficient and valuable as a result. Gordon Bajnai said in a statement that the decision was victory... [read complete entry]
October 01, 2009, 10:10 CET
PM reportedly ready to nominate Socialist for EU commissioner
Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai and ruling Socialist Party leaders will discuss on Friday whom to nominate as European commissioner, Nepszabadsag daily said on Thursday. The three Socialist politicians running for the post are MEP Edit Herczog, incumbent commissioner Laszlo Kovacs... [read complete entry]
October 01, 2009, 10:04 CET
Hungary's EU commissioner disputes criticism of record
Hungary's European Union commissioner Laszlo Kovacs told MTI on Wednesday that his performance as commissioner in charge of taxation needs to be assessed on the basis of facts. Kovacs spoke in reaction to an opinion piece published in the latest... [read complete entry]
September 22, 2009, 09:43 CET
Hungarian MEP gets top post at EU-US policy network
Hungarian MEP Edit Herczog has been elected chairperson of the European group of the Transatlantic Policy Network (TPN), a non-governmental organisation promoting US-EU cooperation. Herczog (Socialist) told MTI on Monday that her focus would be on cooperation in the energy... [read complete entry]
September 21, 2009, 10:25 CET
Orbán says Fidesz to scrap 2010 budget if returned to power
Fidesz will revoke the 2010 budget if it gains power next year, party leader Viktor Orbán told HírTV Friday evening. Calling the budget the most dangerous of the past 20 years, Orbán said it will endanger hundreds of thousands of... [read complete entry]
September 16, 2009, 09:56 CET
EP head's offer to mediate Hungary-Slovakia feud called historic
Hungarian MEP Csaba Tabajdi has welcomed that the new president of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek, on Tuesday expressed readiness to mediate in settling Hungarian-Slovak tensions. Tabajdi said the Buzek was ready to help settle the conflict that has developed... [read complete entry]
September 15, 2009, 10:53 CET
EC unable to criticize Slovak language law, commission official says
The European Commission has no legal grounds to criticise Slovakia's new language law, Leonard Orban, EC Commissioner for Multilinguism, said in a response to a Hungarian query, cited by Tuesday's Nepszabadsag daily. The EU has no ground to launch procedures... [read complete entry]
September 14, 2009, 09:47 CET
Bajnai announces new EU-backed Roma initiative
Nearly 200 Roma with university degrees will be admitted to work in public administration with their salaries to be initially paid by an EU project, Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai said in an interview with Népszabadság. The government will also begin... [read complete entry]
September 11, 2009, 11:40 CET
EU measures against Slovakia no substitute for strong Hungary, Orbán says
A lengthy EU legal procedure is no substitute for an unequivocal and dynamic Hungarian answer based on national interests, Fidesz chairman Viktor Orbán declared yesterday in discussing the Hungarian-Slovak conflict. There is no doubt that the conflict has a European... [read complete entry]
September 09, 2009, 09:40 CET
EU justice commissioner sides with Hungary over Slovak language law
The EU's justice commissioner is sympathetic to Hungary's view of the Slovak language law and shares Hungary's opinion of it in a number of respects, Foreign Minister Peter Balazs told Hungarian journalists after talks with Jacques Barrot. "I asked him,... [read complete entry]
September 02, 2009, 09:58 CET
Thousands protest in Dunaszerda
Participants from Slovakia, Hungary and Romania took part in a three-hour rally at Dunajska Streda, Slovakia on Tuesday to protest the amended Slovak state language act. Organisers put demonstrator numbers at 12,000, and police at 6,500. “It is a shame... [read complete entry]
August 31, 2009, 10:55 CET
Hungary to beef up Brussels presence with new offices
The Budapest government is planning a purchase of offices in the European Union capital of Brussels for Ft 460 million (€1.7 million), writes Népszabadság. Budapest currently has three people representing it at the administrative center of the EU, which the... [read complete entry]
August 26, 2009, 10:25 CET
Hungarian Academy of Sciences: Slovak language law violates human rights
The Slovakian language law fundamentally violates human rights, international obligations and European Union norms, the Ethnic-National Minority Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (HAS) said in a report published on its website on Wednesday. "In the interest of protecting... [read complete entry]
August 25, 2009, 11:23 CET
Socialist party challenges EC position on Sólyom row
The spokesman of the European Commission has not interpreted correctly last week's diplomatic incident between Hungary and Slovakia, the parliamentary group leader of the ruling Socialist party said on Tuesday. Speaking in public TV's morning programme "Napkelte" Attila Mesterhazy responded... [read complete entry]
August 24, 2009, 11:29 CET
Slovak minority MEP calls for EU to uphold minority rights
The Slovak government's steps to hinder the entry of Hungary's president into Slovakia were without any legal basis and were "scandalous", Slovak MEP Edit Bauer told journalists on Saturday. Solyom was scheduled to attend the ceremony of unveiling a statue... [read complete entry]
July 29, 2009, 09:39 CET
Survey reveals lackluster support among Hungarians for EU membership
The majority of Hungarians approve of the country's five-year European Union membership, though many believe there have been associated costs too, according to a survey by pollster Szazadveg-Forsense published on Tuesday. Around three-quarters of respondents said they supported EU membership... [read complete entry]
July 24, 2009, 11:11 CET
Socialist mull bill on "Hungarians beyond the borders"
The ruling Socialist Party (MSZP) is considering putting forward a bill on the "status of Hungarians living beyond the border", Jozsef Kozma, deputy chairman of Parliament's foreign affairs committee, told MTI on Thursday. "This status would symbolise affiliation to, and... [read complete entry]
July 14, 2009, 10:09 CET
Hungary solidifies plans for upcoming EU presidency
A year from now, Hungary must already stand prepared to take over the European Union's presidency in the first half of 2011, Foreign Minister Peter Balazs said at a forum on Monday. The Economic and Social council of the Hungarian... [read complete entry]
June 24, 2009, 11:02 CET
FM calls Slovak parliament statement on Hungary unacceptable
Several passages of the Slovak parliament's statement, recently adopted, on Hungarian-Slovak relations are unacceptable, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Balazs told MTI on Wednesday. Balazs added that it was especially odd that the Slovak Foreign Minister had chosen to send the... [read complete entry]
June 19, 2009, 09:26 CET
Hungarian government supports extension of Barroso's term as EC president
The Hungarian cabinet supports the extension of the commission of European Commission President José Manuel Durao Barroso, Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai confirmed in Brussels on Thursday. Bajnai underlined that it is necessary that someone completes the crisis management in the... [read complete entry]
June 11, 2009, 08:42 CET
Jobbik seeks to form "EU-realistic" group in EP
The radical nationalist Jobbik party's three deputies will seek to initiate a new group of "EU-realists" in the European Parliament, Jobbik head Gabor Vona told reporters in Budapest on Wednesday. Jobbik wants to be in a group with parties that... [read complete entry]
June 08, 2009, 09:35 CET
Police arrest man for burning EU flag near Parliament
The Budapest police (BRFK) arrested a man on Sunday for setting fire to a European Union flag near the Parliament building, BRFK said on its web page. The man, referred to as Karoly F., and others gathered near Kossuth Square... [read complete entry]
June 04, 2009, 12:41 CET
Hungary expected to see highest EP election turnout among V4
Hungary will have the highest turnout in the European Parliamentary (EP) elections from among its Visegrad Four peers Slovakia, Czech Republic and Poland, according to a poll by Tarki and the Central European Opinion Research Group published on Wednesday. Just... [read complete entry]
June 03, 2009, 08:31 CET
European Socialist leader to visit Budapest Wednesday
President of the Party of European Socialists Poul Nyrup Rasmussen will pay a one-day visit to Hungary on Wednesday to join the Socialist party's campaign for the European Parliamentary elections, the Socialist party spokesman told MTI on Tuesday. Rasmussen, invited... [read complete entry]
June 03, 2009, 08:29 CET
Orbán says country's MEPs to represent Hungarians from throughout region
Hungarian deputies in the European Parliament will have to represent all Hungarians living in the Carpathian Basin, the head of the conservative opposition Fidesz party, Viktor Orban said at an election rally on Tuesday. Whoever fails to understand this, or... [read complete entry]
June 03, 2009, 08:05 CET
Almost 6,000 foreign nationals registered to vote in Hungary's EP elections
A total of 5,580 citizens of EU states have registered to vote in Hungary in the upcoming European Parliamentary elections next Sunday, the head of the National Election Office told MTI on Tuesday. The registered include 2,406 Romanians, 1,367 Germans,... [read complete entry]
May 29, 2009, 11:36 CET
Sólyom again makes nomination for Supreme Court chief
President Laszlo Solyom on Thursday nominated Andras Baka to head Hungary's Supreme Court, the president's office told MTI. Baka, who is a former member of the Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights, was nominated by Solyom earlier, but parliament rejected... [read complete entry]
May 27, 2009, 09:35 CET
Hungary to prepare budget for 2011 EU presidency by July
Hungary will prepare the budget for its 2011 EU presidency by July, Foreign Minister Peter Balazs said in Budapest on Tuesday. The government calculates with a grand total of HUF 30-40bn (EUR 105-141m) in expenses, Balazs said after the meeting... [read complete entry]
May 27, 2009, 09:33 CET
Orbán meets German chancellor, Italian PM
Leader of Hungary's main opposition Fidesz party Viktor Orban discussed with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Tuesday economic issues and preparations for the upcoming European parliamentary elections. Orban told reporters after their meeting that in case the European... [read complete entry]
May 25, 2009, 09:31 CET
Fidesz campaigns jointly with Slovakia's MKP
The upcoming European Parliamentary elections will determine how many MEPs represent in Brussels the Hungarians living in the Carpathian Basin, head of the main opposition Fidesz party said on Saturday at a joint campaign event with the Party of the... [read complete entry]
May 25, 2009, 09:18 CET
Government supports re-election of EC President Barroso
Hungarian Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai supports the re-election of European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, daily Nepszabadsag said on Monday. "There is a need for security, with a primary focus on crisis-management. We believe the current President Jose Manuel Barroso... [read complete entry]
May 22, 2009, 10:37 CET
Survey finds Hungarians, British most leery of EU membership
Hungarians and Britons view EU membership the least favourably, while the majority of EU citizens view it favourably in general, according to a recent survey commissioned by the Paris-based Foundation for Political Innovation. Only 41 percent of Hungarians and 22... [read complete entry]
May 21, 2009, 10:21 CET
Parliament foreign affair head says Hungary needs to help shape EU policy
Hungary should make initiatives in shaping the European Union's common foreign policy, Zsolt Nemeth (Fidesz), head of Parliament's foreign affairs and ethnic Hungarian minorities committee, said in a Budapest conference on Wednesday. The conference was convened to present a document... [read complete entry]
May 21, 2009, 10:10 CET
Socialists unveil party manifesto; focus on bailouts, welfare
The major European election goals of Hungary's Socialist party are developing businesses, helping foreign currency borrowers under pressure and introducing European minimum standards in welfare, according to the party's manifesto published on Wednesday. The Socialists also want to reopen talks... [read complete entry]
May 18, 2009, 11:15 CET
Poll forecasts landslide opposition victory in EP elections
Hungary's main opposition Fidesz and allied Christian Democratic Party (KDNP) could win a landslide victory at the forthcoming European Parliamentary elections, the Hungarian Gallup Institute told MTI on Friday. According to a survey conducted earlier in May, Fidesz-KDNP enjoys a... [read complete entry]
May 14, 2009, 10:58 CET
Orbán presents Fidesz EP platform, denounces austerity measures
The European parliamentary elections will determine "whether we can protect the country from the Bajnai type of austerity package," Fidesz chairman Viktor Orbán declared yesterday as he presented his party's election platform.... [read complete entry]
May 12, 2009, 08:53 CET
Leader of Socialist EP ticket decries election's focus on domestic politics
Ex-Foreign Minister Kinga Goncz, who tops the Socialist Party's list for the June 7 European parliamentary elections, on Monday called it "incomprehensible" and "thought-provoking" that the EP election campaign had become a scene of "home policy skirmishes". "While we seek... [read complete entry]
May 07, 2009, 09:30 CET
Bajnai in Prague for EU Eastern Partnership summit
Hungarian Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai will attend a summit of European Union members and countries of the Eastern Partnership programme in Prague, government spokeswoman Bernadett Budai said on Wednesday.... [read complete entry]
May 06, 2009, 09:35 CET
Foreign Minister says EC upbeat on Hungarian prospects, EU presidency
The European Commission has made a very positive approach to Hungary's crisis management programme, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Balazs told Parliament's European affairs committee on Tuesday.... [read complete entry]
May 05, 2009, 09:48 CET
Head of Fidesz EP ticket claims gov't lying to EU about economy
The result of the June European Parliamentary elections will show what voters think of the government, Pal Schmitt, who tops the Fidesz-KDNP alliance's party list, told reporters on Monday.... [read complete entry]
May 04, 2009, 10:36 CET
Fidesz condemns anti-Roma violence following EU meeting
The main opposition Fidesz party calls for resolute action against anti-Roma violence and against incitement to hatred but also opposes branding Hungary as a whole as racist, a Fidesz parliamentary official told MTI after talks with European Commission Vice-President Jacques... [read complete entry]
April 29, 2009, 09:07 CET
SZDSZ calls for public debates during EP election campaign
Hungary's liberal opposition Free Democrats are calling for two public debates to be held as part of the European parliamentary elections campaign, party leader Gabor Fodor told the press on Tuesday.... [read complete entry]
April 29, 2009, 09:00 CET
Barroso says EC supports new Hungarian government's reform program
The European Commission supports the new Hungarian government's crisis-management and reform programme, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said in Brussels on Tuesday, after meeting Hungary's Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai.... [read complete entry]
April 28, 2009, 12:21 CET
Pollster sees 15 MEP seats for Fidesz, one for Jobbik
A much higher voter turnout than five years ago is expected at the European Parliament (EP) elections on June 7, Forsense forecasts. Fidesz and the Christian Democrats will obtain 15 of the 22 MEP seats available to Hungary, the Socialist... [read complete entry]
April 28, 2009, 12:14 CET
Fidesz to kick off "low cost" European Parliamentary campaign
Fidesz will begin its European Parliament election drive at Kós Károly sétány in Budapest’s City Park at 4 p.m. on Saturday, campaign manager András Gyürk told reporters on Monday.... [read complete entry]
March 24, 2009, 04:59 CET
Hate speech legislation on parliament's agenda
The government's bill to amend the constitution seeks to facilitate a more efficient fight against hate speech, deputy Justice Minister Dezso Avarkeszi said in a parliamentary debate of the bill on Tuesday.... [read complete entry]
March 19, 2009, 08:02 CET
Polls indicate only two Hungarian parties to win European Parliament seats
Only Hungary's two biggest parties will win seats in the June European parliamentary elections, according to a poll conducted by Nezopont Institute.... [read complete entry]
March 12, 2009, 09:15 CET
European Parliament adopts Hungarian MEP Roma report
The European Parliament adopted the report of a Hungarian MEP on the social and labour-market situation of the Roma in the EU on Wednesday.... [read complete entry]
March 11, 2009, 11:20 CET
Poll finds Hungarians trust EU, local councils more than national gov't
Hungarians have more trust in the European Union institutions than in the government and they want local councils to have a stronger role in EU decision-making, according to a recent survey by Eurobarometer published on Monday.... [read complete entry]
March 11, 2009, 08:12 CET
Supreme Court hands down acquittal in case of banned red star
Hungary's Supreme Court on Tuesday acquitted a one-time vice president of the Workers' Party on charges of using totalitarian symbols, overturning an earlier ruling of the Budapest Municipal Court.... [read complete entry]
March 10, 2009, 09:27 CET
PM hired private consulting firm to craft €180 billion bailout proposal
Prime Minister Gyurcsány commissioned consultants McKinsey to help prepare his proposal for a €180 billion East European bailout package, it was revealed yesterday.... [read complete entry]