The Czech Republic and Hungary are going on the same road, so cooperation and exchange of lessons learned between the armed forces are equally important for both partners, Gen. Petr Pavel and Gen. Tibor Benkő the chiefs of defence of the two countries concluded at a press conference held after their discussion in Prague on Wednesday, April 16.
At the meeting of EU defence ministers in Luxemburg on Tuesday, April 15, the countries of the Defence Cooperation Initiative (DECI) signed a memorandum of understanding on forming an EU battle group by the first half of 2017. Minister of Defence Csaba Hende signed the document on behalf of Hungary.
Hungary needs a consequent education policy that is stable in the medium term in order to improve students’ PISA results, Sándor Brassói, head of department at the Ministry of Human Resources said at a conference on Wednesday, adding that permanent changes undermine the results of the reforms.
On the 162nd anniversary of the founding of the first Hungarian nursery, Minister of State for Family and Social Affairs Miklós Soltész awarded nursery employees with several decades of experience “Pro Familiis” awards and ministerial diplomas on Wednesday.
The eight-month upward trend of retail sales continued in February: the year-on-year increase of 6.7 percent registered in this period is the best figure since 2006. Data are indicating that household consumption has continued to improve, due -- among others -- to the cutting of utility costs, the introduction of family tax allowance, the wage hike for healthcare employees and teachers, record-breaking employment growth, the increase of wages in real terms and the overall improvement of consumer confidence.
Hungarian-owned Kerox Ltd. will build a new plant in Sóskút, Hungary with an investment of € 15 million (4.45 bn HUF) and the expansion of manufacturing capacity is made possible by the Government’s decision to support the project financially, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs and External Economic Relations Péter Szijjártó and Managing Director of Kerox Ltd. Attila Gábor Kovács announced at their joint press conference in Diósd, Hungary.
The Ministry of National Development and the Hungarian Cyclists’ Club have launched their jointly organised campaign promoting cycling for the 13th time, starting on 22 April this spring and finishing on 30 May.
Industrial output in Hungary was again significantly higher in the second month of the year, and thus the upward trend in place since 2013 is continuing. In February 2014, industrial output volume index was up by 8.1 percent – according to both unadjusted and workday-adjusted data – in comparison to the corresponding period of 2013. This figure is the best in three years, as it has been the fastest February growth registered since the same period in 2011.
The investors of Slager Radio submitted an arbitration lawsuit to the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID*) in December 2011. According to the owners in 2009 Hungary violated the bilateral investment protection agreements established with the Netherlands, Switzerland and Luxembourg by the implementation of a tender related to national commercial radio broadcasting rights and the relevant decision. The claimant would have claimed damages in the amount of USD 83.3 million (equivalent of approx. HUF 18 billion at the current exchange rate).
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán sent a letter to the Chairman of the Federation of Hungarian Jewish Communities (Mazsihisz), András Heisler, on the occasion of the Memorial Day for the Hungarian Victims of the Holocaust. The full text of the letter can be read below.