Hungary is taking part in the world's largest Food and Agriculture Fair, the International Green Week held in Berlin, for the fortieth time this year; the Hungarian Pavilion was jointly opened on Friday by Hungarian Minister for Rural Development Sándor Fazekas, German Minister of Agriculture Ilse Aigner, and the Mayor of Berlin.
Minister without portfolio for negotiations between Hungary and certain international financial organisations Tamás Fellegi consulted deputy head of the EC and European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs Olli Rehn about the actions required for the commencement of negotiations on an eventual safety line with the European Union and the IMF in Brussels.
Gen. Dr. Tibor Benkő, the Chief of the MoD Defence Staff participated in a two-day NATO Military Committee in Chiefs of Defence (MC/CD) Session in Brussels.
In a debate on Hungary in the European Parliament on Wednesday, Viktor Orbán said that the renewal and restructuring of Hungary are based on European principles; he pointed out that questions will naturally arise when there is renewal of such magnitude and momentum.
Minister without portfolio Tamás Fellegi assesses the results of his informal consultation tour preparing for the official negotiations on the Hungarian credit. The press conference is aired live on our website.
On 19 January 2012 Minister without portfolio for negotiations between Hungary and certain international financial organisations Tamás Fellegi continued his informal consultations in Vienna to prepare the official negotiations on Hungary’s loan application.
New generations imply great possibilities for Hungary, as they will be the source of our future entrepreneurs, craftsmen and decision-makers. They are the ones who supply the resources for necessary changes in Hungary and in Europe. Taking these resources into consideration, the New Generation Programme was created together with young people. The programme identifies the overall goals and tools that can help all of us to live in a Hungary where young people care about their country, and their country cares about them.
On 16-17 January 2012 Minister without portfolio for negotiations between Hungary and certain international financial organisations Tamás Fellegi continued informal consultations in Germany to prepare the official negotiations on Hungary’s loan request.
On Sunday, January 15 Defence Minister Dr. Csaba Hende attended the unveiling ceremony of a World War II monument in the town of Belényes (Beius), in the south of Bihor County, Romania. The memorial commemorates those ten Hungarian soldiers (‘honvéd’, ie. ‘homeguards’), who were wounded in action at the battles around the town in 1944 and died a hero’s death in a military hospital. The ceremony was organized by the Country Youth Association, the representatives of the established churches of Belényes, and the Bihor County and Belényes organizations of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (DAHR).
On the whole, Hungarian agriculture has concluded an excellent year, crop results were good and the export-import balance was positive – announced the State Secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development on Tuesday in Hévíz at the opening of the Baki Agro Centre's first agricultural economy day of the year.
On 17 January 2012, the European Commission decided to launch three infringement procedures against Hungary. The Hungarian government takes note of the Commission's decision to examine the compliance of certain Hungarian laws with the acquis communautaire following the procedures laid down in the Treaty. Hungary regards this as an opportunity to engage in a technical dialogue based on verifiable facts with the competent authority, the European Commission, acting as the guardian of the Treaties.
The Foreign Ministry’s Deputy State Secretary for Global Affairs János Hóvári and the Japanese Foreign Ministry’s Director-General for European Issues Jiro Kodera held the next round of the annual consultations of Hungarian-Japanese Foreign Ministries in Tokyo on 16 January 2012.
On 16 January 2012, the Foreign Ministry’s Deputy State Secretary for EU Bilateral Relations, Press and Cultural Diplomacy Gergely Prőhle met leaders of the Foreign Ministry, the Parliament, the churches, and representatives of the press in London, and participated in the Embassy’s dinner in honour of Count János Esterházy.
"Hungary was always at its strongest when its agriculture was flourishing", said Viktor Orbán at the conference organised at the Ministry of Rural Development to present and launch the new Ignác Darányi Plan.
On Wednesday, January 11 Lt.-Gen. Zoltán Orosz, the Deputy Chief of the MoD Defence Staff attended the transfer of authority ceremony of the Hungarian–Romanian–Slovak–Ukrainian TISA Multinational Engineer Battalion. At the event held in Hotel Hadik, Budapest, the Hungarian general transferred the responsibilities of the lead nation role to Lt.-Gen. Dr. Dan Ghica-Radu, the deputy chief of the general staff of the Romanian armed forces.
Minister without portfolio for negotiations between Hungary and certain international financial organisations Tamás Fellegi had informal consultations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington between 9-12 January 2012 to prepare negotiations about Hungary’s borrowing. On the last day of his visit, the minister consulted IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde about the possible schedule of effective negotiations. The head of delegation confirmed that the Hungarian Government remained firmly committed to the earliest possible conduct of negotiations.
Mr. Tamás Fellegi, Minister in charge of conducting negotiations with the IMF and the European Union met with Madame Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund on Thursday, January 12, 2012. Press Communiqué.
Hungary is waiting for arguments from the European Union on disputed laws and when they are convincing, the government will be ready to consider modifying the legislation, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Thursday.
Tamas Fellegi, Hungary's chief negotiator for talks with the IMF and the EU, will hold meetings in Germany on Monday and Tuesday next week, his office told MTI on Thursday.
‘Recent disasters might have been avoided, had a comprehensive, unified, well-functioning disaster management system existed. By founding the United National Disaster Management Organisation, the Government is correcting this deficiency,’ said Viktor Orbán at the organisation's inaugural ceremony on Monday 2 January.
János Martonyi, Minister of Foreign Affairs addressed a letter to his EU counterparts presenting the background and aims of the recent re-structuring of the constitutional order in Hungary.
The Hungarian Embassy in Washington reports that Tamás Fellegi – minister without portfolio responsible for liaising with international financial organisations – started negotiations with the International Monetary Fund on Monday in Washington DC.
The government is ready to discuss any comment or proposal with the European Commission in regard to the Excessive Deficit Procedure verdict.
One of the first new laws to be discussed in the Parliament's spring session is the proposed bill on waste management, which will be presented by the Minister for Rural Development. The new law will create the conditions for uniform, efficient and environmentally friendly waste management, and provides incentives for a new approach to the issue. The bill clarifies the definition of waste, and determines in detail how waste should be handled. It squarely determines the tasks and responsibilities of both market participants and the public, as well as the advantages gained. It clearly defines who is the producer and receiver of the waste, i.e. those involved in waste management: collection, transport, salvaging, processing.
The Ministry for National Economy hereby confirms that the accrual-based deficit target figure based on EU accounting methodology will come in as expected at below 2.94 percent of GDP.