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☆ Hungary blocks next tranche of EU off-budget military support for Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BUDAPEST, May 16 (Reuters) - Hungary did not approve the disbursement of the next tranche of military support for Ukraine provided under the EU's European Peace Facility (EPF), a government spokesman's office said on Tuesday. The EPF, created in 2021, is an off-budget instrument aimed at enhancing the EU's ability to prevent conflicts, build peace and strengthen international security. The EU has provided a total of about 3.6 billion euros for military support for Ukraine so far under the EPF. Hungary, which is member of the EU and also NATO, has refused to provide any military equipment to its neighbour Ukraine, which was invaded by Russian forces in February 2022. Hungary has also repeatedly criticised EU sanctions against Russia, which all 27 EU countries must also unanimously approve, but eventually supported all the agreed measures so far.

☆ Teenagers tear-gassed at protest against Orban's education reforms
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Boldizsar Gyori | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/9] Police officers spray people, as protesters take part in a protest against Hungarian government's 'Status Law? which may increase teachers' workloads and restrict their independence in Budapest, Hungary, May 3, 2023. The police action follows a thousands-strong rally in central Budapest earlier on Wednesday against legislation that would significantly increase teachers' workload. The protest was the latest in a series of demonstrations over the past year for better working conditions for teachers. Hungary is facing a growing shortage of teachers mainly due to low wages and the unpredictability in the regulatory environment.

☆ Hungary’s Habsburg Ambassador to the Pope, With an Offbeat Résumé
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Jason Horowitz | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

When Pope Francis lands in Budapest on Friday, Eduard Habsburg, Hungary’s ambassador to the Holy See and a descendant of the defunct Habsburg dynasty that once ruled much of Europe, will greet him on the tarmac with a gag gift. “Begin now or do you want to wait for eternity?” Mr. Habsburg, 56, said he planned to ask Francis. But after a career as a zombie-movie screenwriter, cartoon producer, love-triangle novelist, anime enthusiast, sci-fi geek and media personality with monarchic sensibilities, the Hungarian government came calling. OK. That’s the same question I asked,” the amiable diplomat said over coffee in his residence last week in Rome. “You will find respect in the Vatican if you go to Rome, because the Vatican still respects traditional families.”

☆ International Investment Bank to relocate headquarters from Budapest back to Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 19 (Reuters) - Russia's International Investment Bank (IIB) will relocate its headquarters from Budapest back to Russia, according to a statement published on the bank's website on Wednesday. The decision was announced a week after the United States imposed sanctions on three top officials of IIB in Budapest: two Russians and a Hungarian. "IIB has exhausted the basis for further operations from its headquarters in Budapest and in the European Union," the IIB statement said. "The Bank has commenced a relocation of its operations and functions of its headquarters from Hungary to Russia." The Hungarian government took no measures against the bank, which moved its operations to Budapest in 2019.

☆ Ukraine's cheap grain exports are causing an awkward rift with its European neighbors and staunch allies
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

The move to ban Ukraine's agricultural imports has angered the European Union given that the bloc has sought to help Kyiv maintain its exports as an economic lifeline for the war-torn country. Slovakia's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development told CNBC that despite its temporary ban on Ukrainian imports, the country continued to be open for "solidarity transit," meaning that Ukrainian grain could still pass through its territory to other countries. The ministry added that "we would appreciate the whole-European solution [to] the Ukrainian grain because the topic is relating to the protection of the whole internal European market." It also said it recognized the impact of the "oversupply" of Ukrainian imports on EU farmers, particularly those in bordering nations. Ships, including those carrying grain from Ukraine and awaiting inspections, are seen anchored off the Istanbul coastline on November 02, 2022 in Istanbul, Turkey.

☆ Hungary quit Russian bank as U.S. sanctions 'ruined' it, PM Orban says as relations worsen
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

BUDAPEST, April 14 (Reuters) - Hungary abandoned a Budapest-based Russian bank this week because U.S. sanctions had "ruined" it, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday, adding that Hungary would comply with sanctions on Russia but continue to speak out against them. Russia is its largest shareholder, while Hungary was second-largest and senior Hungarian officials had held roles there including board seats. This week, the United States imposed new sanctions on the bank, including on three of its top officials, two Russians and Hungarian. Orban said Hungary would comply with sanctions against Russia, even though it did not support them. "We have never agreed with sanctions but we don't dispute others' rights, including the United States, to impose sanctions," he said.

☆ Sweden less sure it will join NATO by July - TT
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

STOCKHOLM, March 30 (Reuters) - Sweden's foreign minister said on Thursday he was no longer sure his country would be able to join NATO by July, after fresh signs of objections from Hungary. Sweden applied to join the military alliance after Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year, but Hungary and fellow NATO member Turkey held off from approving the bid. Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said last week that "it goes without saying" Sweden would become a member by the time of a NATO summit in Vilnius in July. Finland applied to join NATO at the same time as Sweden. Its NATO membership was approved by the Hungarian parliament on Monday and is expected to be ratified by Turkey soon.

☆ Hungarian government official argues Sweden isn't nice enough to his country to get approval to join NATO
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Hungary is one of two countries yet to approve Sweden's bid to join NATO. Sweden — alongside neighboring Finland — requested to join NATO after Russia invaded Ukraine over a year ago, but it still needs Hungary's approval to do so. "With Finland's admission into NATO now secure, Sweden must face the music regarding its daunting attitude and former derogatory comments toward Hungary," Kovács wrote. Photo by JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty ImagesKovács wrote that another reason for the hold up on Sweden's NATO bid is Stockholm's "crumbling throne of moral superiority" and a "lack of care and respect." Sweden and Finland — both of which have historically been militarily nonaligned — applied to join NATO in May 2022 and were invited to join the military alliance the following month.

☆ Hungary says 'grievances' hold up ratification of Sweden's NATO accession
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BUDAPEST, March 29 (Reuters) - Hungary is holding up Sweden's admission to NATO because of grievances over criticism by Stockholm of Prime Minister Viktor Orban's policies, the Hungarian government spokesman said on Wednesday. Bridging the gap will require effort on both sides, spokesman Zoltan Kovacs said. Sweden and its neighbour Finland asked to join the NATO military alliance last year following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said last week that Turkey's parliament would also start ratifying Finland's accession. But it held off approving Sweden's bid, accusing it of harbouring Kurdish militants.

☆ Hungary must bolster judiciary 'very soon' to recover billions from EU, official says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-18 | by ( Gabriela Baczynska | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

BRUSSELS, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Hungary must bolster the independence of its judiciary "very soon" to stand a realistic chance of getting any of the 15.4 billion euros envisaged for Budapest from the European Union's COVID recovery stimulus, said a top official in the bloc. Hungary can get some 5.8 billion euros ($6.20 billion) in free grants and another 9.6 billion euros in cheap loans from the EU but the bloc has suspended any payments until Budapest implements reforms to improve judicial independence and tackle corruption. NO TRUSTThe EU Commission has put an end-year deadline on accessing the COVID funds, though several countries have already said they need more time to spend the large emergency aid package. "Those supermilestones for the judiciary have to be done soon" for that to be realistic, said Jourova. The bloc has also long frowned at what international watchdogs say is Orban channelling EU funds to associates to entrench himself in power.

☆ S&P downgrades Hungary's ratings to 'BBB-/A-3', outlook 'stable'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jan 27 (Reuters) - Credit ratings agency S&P on Friday cut Hungary's long- and short-term foreign and local currency ratings to 'BBB-/A-3' from 'BBB/A-2', citing persistently high inflation and external pressures. The ratings agency revised its outlook to "stable" from "negative" on expectations that Hungary's economy will avoid a substantial economic downturn over the next two years and weather the indirect effects of the Russia-Ukraine war. S&P expects the Hungarian government, which has pledged to reduce the 2023 budget shortfall to 3.9% of gross domestic product, to gradually reduce fiscal deficits over the next few years. Last week, Fitch cut its outlook on Hungary's long-term foreign currency issuer default rating to "negative" from "stable". Reporting by Aatrayee Chatterjee and Richard Rohan Francis in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj KalluvilaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Hungary just canceled income tax for new moms in their 20s. It's the country's latest attempt to fix its long-term labor shortage.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Hungary is eliminating the income tax for mothers under the age of 30. It's one of several moves the government has made in recent years to try and boost its birth rate. The country is already facing a severe labor shortage. It previously eliminated the income tax for workers until the age of 25 — to incentivize young workers to find jobs — and mothers with at least four children. "For every missing child there should be one coming in and then the numbers will be fine.

☆ Hungarian government scraps price cap on fuels as shortage worsens
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Krisztina Than | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Prime Minister Viktor Orban's chief of staff told a briefing late Tuesday the government had to abolish the price cap, which was introduced a year ago, at MOL's recommendation immediately. The price cap was set to expire at the end of December. Gulyas said the ending of the price cap will boost inflation but did not give an estimate. In July, the government had to narrow the scope of eligibility, and since then the fuel price cap has applied to drivers of privately owned vehicles, farm vehicles and taxis. But the scrapping of the price cap would help alleviate the shortage on the market within a few days, he said.

☆ Beyond the spa: geothermal bubbles up to heat Hungary's homes
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Krisztina Fenyo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SZEGED, Hungary, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Balazs Veres and his family used to live in one of Hungary's many blocks of flats kept warm by communal heating that relied on Russian gas. They can hardly believe their luck after moving in March into a flat heated by some of Hungary's ample reserves of geothermal energy. Veres, 31, said he had been looking for a home with renewable energy but the geothermal heating had not been the primary reason for their choice. According to the latest available figures from the International Energy Agency (IEA), geothermal energy accounted for only 5% of Hungary's renewables, which made up 14.8% of final consumption. The geothermal water that eventually heats the floor of the Veres' flat will have first warmed up the Szeged city hall, several educational institutions and other flats.

☆ Hungary to ratify NATO membership for Finland, Sweden early next year - PM Orban
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WARSAW, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Thursday that Hungary's parliament would ratify NATO membership for Finland and Sweden early next year. Orban told a briefing after a meeting of the Visegrad Group in Slovakia that his government had already decided that Hungary would support Finland's and Sweden's NATO accession and parliament would set this item on its agenda at its first session next year. "Hungary will surely give its backing to their accession, after the government had done, also parliament will do so," Orban said. Hungary and Turkey are the only members of the alliance who have not yet cleared the accession. Reporting by Alan Charlish, Pawel Florkiewicz, Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk; Editing by Alex RichardsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ US trolls Hungary, the most pro-Russian EU state, reminding its leaders they are supposed to be allies with the West
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The US called out Hungary stance on the invasion of Ukraine, which has been softer than many nations. The US embassy reminded the EU and NATO member that the US and Hungary are supposed to be allies. Hungary has been the EU member least critical of Russia since it invaded Ukraine in February. In response to the sanctions, Russia is threatening to cut off gas supplies. The campaign also involved a government poster that describes EU sanctions as bombs falling on Hungary.

☆ Hungary, Serbia agree to build pipeline to ship Russian oil to Serbia
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The receiver station of the Druzhba oil pipeline between Hungary and Russia is seen at the Hungarian MOL Group's Danube Refinery in Szazhalombatta, Hungary, May 18, 2022. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo/File PhotoBUDAPEST, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Hungary and Serbia have agreed to build a pipeline to supply Serbia with Russian Urals crude via the Druzhba oil pipeline as Belgrade's shipments via Croatia fall under EU sanctions, the Hungarian government said on Monday. Serbia gets its oil via the JANAF oil pipeline from Croatia. "The new oil pipeline would enable Serbia to be supplied with cheaper Urals crude oil, connecting to the Friendship oil pipeline," Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs tweeted. Hungary has gas reserves covering about five to six months' worth of consumption, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said.

If Meloni wins, Sunday's election will hand Italy its most right-wing government since World War Two. German magazine Stern plastered its front page with a picture of Meloni under the banner: "the most dangerous woman in Europe". Macron has privately told EU officials he is concerned about a Meloni victory, according to sources aware of the conversations. rome-born meloni has a history of euroscepticism and shares Orban's anti-immigration views and the promotion of traditional family values. "This kind of 'sky is falling' narrative out there about the Italian election doesn't square with our expectations," one U.S. official said.

☆ Hungary submits new anti-graft bills to avoid loss of EU funds
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( Krisztina Than | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Hungary's Justice Minister Judit Varga speaks in a press conference during a General Affairs Council in Luxembourg, June 22, 2021. The EU's executive on Sunday recommended suspending funds worth 7.5 billion euros over what it sees as Hungary's failure to combat corruption and uphold the rule of law. Hungary's forint currency and Hungarian bonds have sold off in recent weeks over fears that Budapest would lose billions of euros in EU money. Hungary's case is the first in the EU under a new financial sanction meant to better protect the rule of law and combat corruption in the 27-nation bloc. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Krisztina Than; Editing by Paul SimaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Hungarian government to submit anti-corruption bill to avoid losing EU funds
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | by ( Krisztina Than | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban waves at the audience during general session at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Dallas, Texas, U.S., August 4, 2022. Nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, in power since 2010, has clashed with Brussels repeatedly over his policies that it sees as eroding democracy in the Central European country. He said Budapest would likely secure the pending deal but that would not resolve all the outstanding disagreements over other chunks of EU funds. Like most EU countries, Hungary last year submitted its blueprint on how it would use EU grants to make its economy more environmentally friendly and high-tech after the COVID-19 pandemic. It has yet to receive approval on that as well because of EU concerns over corruption, and the rule of law.

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