During recent years, Hungary has moved from being one of the worst performing European countries to become one of the frontrunners of the EU, a result of the Government’s consistent economic policy, Government Spokesperson András Giró-Szász stated at a joint press conference on Friday. He emphasised that the Hungarian Government is convinced that the measures requested by the European Commission are unnecessary, as budget targets will be met without difficulty.
State Secretary for External Economic Relations and Foreign Affairs Péter Szijjártó negotiated with South American and Caribbean ambassadors in Hungary.
As from 1 May 2013, the Government has increased to 5% the interest subsidy provided for the facilities of Széchenyi Investment Loan, Széchenyi Own Contribution Supplementary Loan and Széchenyi Subsidy Advance Loan. The more favourable financing possibilities may contribute to the investment spirit of domestic small and medium enterprises, this way supporting the development of Hungarian economy. Due to the rate of interest subsidy exceeding that of the current base rate of the bank of issue, Hungarian companies may obtain a loan at an interest of less than 0.4% per month in the scheme.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has asked Minister of National Economy Mihály Varga to work out new measures to ensure Hungary's exit from the Excessive Deficit Procedure, Government Spokesperson András Giró-Szász said on Thursday. The Hungarian Prime Minister attended a board meeting of the ruling Fidesz party earlier on Thursday, focusing on necessary steps in connection with the EU procedure, he added.
The State Secretary for External Economic Relations and Foreign Affairs Péter Szijjártó declared at the press conference of the Hungarian Investment and Trade Agency that the top priority of Hungarian economic policy this year is to facilitate growth and achieving this requires the successful implementation of the Opening to the East policy.
200 activists from the Hungarian Cyclists’ Club served breakfast to people who cycled to work today as part of the Bike to Work (Bringázz a Munkába!) campaign, which is also supported by the Ministry of National Development.
The European Commission has recently published its Spring Forecast for 2013. This contains key macro-economic data, including facts for 2012 and estimates for 2013 and 2014, as well as short evaluations on each European Union member state.
Enikő Győri, Minister of State in charge of EU affairs, stated that the report prepared by European Parliament Rapporteur Rui Tavares was without precedent within the European Union. The Hungarian Minister of State pointed out that the report - which was strongly critical of the state of the rule of law in Hungary - concerns issues that fall within the scope of national competence.
The government is preparing to launch a programme to promote births in the second half of 2013, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced at a Christian forum.
Foreign Minister János Martonyi held talks with Silvan Shalom, Minister for Energy and Water Affairs, who represented the Israeli Government at the Assembly of the Jewish World Congress in Budapest.
According to the Government’s Spokesperson András Giró-Szász, the draft report on the rule of law in Hungary, put forward by Green Party member Rui Tavares, is full of factual errors and misrepresentations.
The new production facility of the car industry supplier – an automotive leather manufacturer -- with its headquarters in the United States will increase the output capacity of the company’s Hungarian subsidiary by 55 percent and add 200 new jobs.
Minister of State for Economic Strategy Zoltán Cséfalvay emphasized at the press conference held in Budapest prior to the seminar on the innovation strategies of Hungary and Sweden that Hungary has recently carried out several profound changes with regard to its innovation policy. The event were organised within the framework of the Swedish-Hungarian Innovation Days 2013 series.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán declared at the Roma Affairs Council meeting in Budapest that the cabinet sees the Roma community as an opportunity, a hidden potential for the country’s economy, while the majority of parties consider the Roma as being a problem.
Tibor Navracsics has said that the Polish Constitution declares Central European identity. At a reception in Budapest on Monday marking Polish Constitution Day, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Administration and Justice also said that Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic – the Visegrád Four (V4) – should now come together in the economic field.
At the opening ceremony of the international conference on public employment, the Minister of Interior said that public employment programmes and the mandatory training courses are capable of leading unemployed people back to the labour market.
Minister of Public Administration and Justice Tibor Navracsics has said that European institutions have not voiced legal criticisms of Hungary based on legal principles, but have levelled accusations against the country based on political considerations.
The fall of the Berlin wall and the reunification of Germany would not have happened without the courage and the political wisdom of Hungary – said former State Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany Jürgen Sudhoff at a podium discussion in Budapest on Monday.
“Corruption and Other Threats to Democracy”
Ulaanbaatar, 29 April 2013
Hungary is thankful to Germany for its active role in making Europe united and whole again following the German reunification, Foreign Minister János Martonyi said on Monday.
A key government aim is to improve the climate for foreign investors, Foreign Minister János Martonyi said after meeting his German counterpart on 6 May, 2013.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán addressed the 184th Plenary Assembly of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. The Prime Minister pointed out that Hungary may be successful in the competition for the best scholars, if we manage to keep the country's most talented brains here in Hungary.
Foreign Minister János Martonyi received two of the executives of the Washington Holocaust Memorial Museum, Museum Director Sara Bloomfield and Director of the Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies Paul Shapiro in his office on May 3. The parties reviewed the main issues related to the Jewish community in Hungary. Minister Martonyi provided detailed information on government measures aimed at combating intolerance.
The World Jewish Congress began its three-day meeting in Budapest on 3 May with nearly 500 delegates from all over the world. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán delivered his opening speech in front of the 14th General Assembly and stated that the Hungarian Government considers it its moral obligation to promote "zero tolerance" against anti-Semitism.
Live streaming about Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s speech at the 14th General Assembly of the World Jewish Congress in Budapest will be available via www.kormany.hu from 8 PM.