POLITICAL SUMMARY OF THE WEEK
27 May – 3 June 2016 | Edited by: Júlia Szilárd
ILLEGAL MIGRATION
PRIME MINISTER VIKTOR ORBÁN: European leaders have faced their people
The Prime Minister gave an interview to Kossuth Rádió’s “180 Minutes” programme
No matter how much George Soros keeps funding civil society organisations, no matter how hard the Hungarian billionaire tries to use his money to buy himself into the media and set the tone, the truth is that, in increasing numbers and intensity, the people are opposed to the asylum policy of Western governments.
As Europe is based on democracy, sooner or later this will lead to trouble, and now everyone can sense the silence and tension before the storm.
One has not seen the people change their position on an issue of such importance, and European leaders must therefore fully revise the policies they are pursuing.
The Government intends to close the Bicske reception centre. An action plan has been developed to this end, however, it takes time to implement it.
Further information: kormany.hu/en
MINISTER OF THE PRIME MINSITER’S OFFICE JÁNOS LÁZÁR: The Government expects migrants to respect the law
In Kiskunhalas, some 300 migrants protested against being detained in a secure reception centre, and they were prepared to use violence.
Migrants should not abuse the authorities’ trust in them, and they should cooperate with the authorities.
Migration is still a serious challenge on the Serbian-Hungarian border, but there is no significant pressure on the Romanian border; therefore construction of a border barrier there is not yet necessary.
Hungary will not take back a single migrant returned from Western Europe, as these people first entered the EU in Greece, not in Hungary.
It is in the direct interest of Europe – and thus Hungary – that Egypt becomes a stable country.
Further information: kormany.hu/en
Viktor Orbán has not misled the German and Austrian chancellors
According to sources of the German newspaper Bild, last September Germany was expecting only thousands of migrants, and those in Austrian government circles think that the Hungarian prime minister intentionally sought to give a misleadingly low estimate of the number of migrants approaching the Austrian border.
The Hungarian prime minister is an ally of the current German and Austrian chancellors, and so it is out of the question that he might have provided them with incorrect information.
Viktor Orbán held talks with former Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on a number of occasions; there was continuous dialogue between them.
In the Friday issue of Bild, Hungary’s Ambassador to Berlin Péter Györkös also confirmed that neither Austria, nor Germany were being kept uncertain about the magnitude of migration.
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE PÉTER SZIJJÁRTÓ: Hundreds of thousands of people cannot be allowed to overrun the continent ever again
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó paid a one-day working visit to Denmark.
European border protection is an essential part of the fight against illegal migration.
A joint European solution is required to solve the migration crisis.
Further information: kormany.hu/en
Migration pressure on Europe must be eased by OECD development policy
Péter Szijjártó attended the annual ministerial meeting of the development organisation.
Development funds should be used reasonably and according to certain conditions, so that developing countries can eliminate reasons triggering global challenges putting migration pressure on the European Union.
Further information in Hungarian: kormany.hu
MINISTER OF INTERIOR SÁNDOR PINTÉR: The pressure from migration will not decrease
Minister of Interior Sándor Pintér held a press conference after the meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security.
Through draft legislation presented to Parliament, the Government would like to expand the transit zones, to ensure that as few migrants as possible enter the country illegally.
In the first phase, HUF 35 billion was spent on handling mass migration, and in the second phase HUF 30 billion was spent. This funding is providing accommodation, medical and other care for migrants, as well as education for migrant children.
Further information: kormany.hu/en
The Ministry of Interior’s status report on the migrant situation
Along the country’s external Schengen borders – the combined length of which is just over 1,100 kilometres – Hungary is protecting the borders of Europe, is stopping and registering migrants, and is separating war refugees from economic migrants.
In 2016 the Office of Immigration and Nationality registered 4,772 asylum requests filed in transit zones, with 3,801 of these applicants being transferred to refugee reception facilities.
In the course of entry procedures, members of vulnerable groups – such as families with young children, the elderly, the sick and the incapacitated – are given priority.
The majority of those who have submitted asylum requests in the transit zones are not Syrian nationals, but economic migrants coming from safe countries. The Government is further reinforcing protection of the borders, is continuing construction of the temporary security border fence, and is creating another transit zone, in the vicinity of Ásotthalom.
People who have crossed the border illegally and who have been expelled for criminal acts related to the border fence and who have not sought asylum are transferred to police custody for foreign nationals, at one of the police’s guarded accommodation facilities.
Those who have been expelled have been sent back to their countries of origin, or to the countries which are required to take them back in accordance with the principle of non-refoulement.
Further information: kormany.hu/en
GYÖRGY BAKONDI, CHIEF SECURITY ADVISOR TO THE PRIME MINISTER: Every day more than one hundred people attempt to cross Hungary’s southern borders illegally
Due to the clearance of the refugee camp in Idomeni last week, the migration pressure on the Hungarian-Serbian border is continuously increasing.
Every day, 100–150 people are attempting to enter the territory of Hungary by damaging the physical border barrier, and another 700–900 are being deterred by the presence of border protection officers.
A border fence is also being constructed in the area of Ásotthalom, where until now – due to the difficult terrain – there has only been a rapidly installed razor wire barrier.
The Government of Hungary has decided to provide further assistance to Hungarian charity organisations active in the area.
Further information: kormany.hu/en
GYÖRGY BAKONDI, CHIEF SECURITY ADVISOR TO THE PRIME MINISTER: In asylum cases decisions are made within one month on average
On average, an asylum seeker spends 30-34 days in Hungarian reception centres: this is how long it takes to make a decision in their cases.
Hungarian and EU laws apply to everyone, therefore it is not possible for people protesting in Kiskunhalas to be transferred to another camp or to have the procedure of their cases accelerated.
There is a legal procedure, they are in that camp legally.
Further information: kormany.hu/en
Minister of State for EU Affairs Szabolcs Takács: Treating the root causes of migration is the number one task
Minister of State for EU Affairs at the Prime Minister’s Office Szabolcs Takács attended a conference organised by the József Antall Knowledge Centre and the European Policy Centre, entitled “Saving Schengen”.
In Europe until now internal solutions have typically been in the foreground, but the focus is slowly shifting to dealing with external factors as well. In this respect, a package of solutions is needed which deals with the problem in its full complexity.
Prospects for staying in home countries must be established. In order to achieve this development policy and trade relations with migrants’ countries of origin must be strengthened.
A conditionality must be established which motivates partner countries to slow down and halt migration.
Further information in Hungarian: kormany.hu
Hungarian police contingent sent to Bulgaria
Hungarian police officers have already been sent to a number of South European countries to help resist against migration pressure. This is the first time they have left for Bulgaria.
The work of the police does not just increase the security of a given country and indirectly reduce migration pressure on Western Europe, but it also strengthens the Hungarian defence system as well.
Further information in Hungarian: kormany.hu
PRIME MINISTER VIKTOR ORBÁN’S VISIT TO EGYPT
PRIME MINISTER VIKTOR ORBÁN: Co-existence of civilisations is a major question for the future
During his official visit to Egypt Prime Minister Viktor Orbán held talks in Cairo with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
Every effort must be made to ensure that there is a united government and a strong national army in Libya, and attempts must be made to secure its unity as a state.
Hungary therefore agrees with Egypt that weapons, terrorists and funds supporting them must be prevented from entering Libya.
Clearly a new economic world order is coming into being, in which both countries must take their places.
Hungary has no imperial past: in other words, it has no desire to seek advancement at others’ expense, but wishes to cooperate with players in the local economy. It is only interested in activities in Egypt which coincide with the best interests of the local people.
At present one hundred Egyptian students are studying in Hungary with Hungarian state scholarships, and the Budapest government is prepared to increase this number.
Europe has a vested interest in the success of the President of Egypt and, as a result, so does Hungary.
Further information: kormany.hu/en
PRIME MINISTER VIKTOR ORBÁN: Major joint flagship projects are needed
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán attended the Egyptian-Hungarian business forum held in Cairo.
After 2010 Hungary was able to find its feet because the whole country understood that this was the last chance.
The Hungarian economy is now on a successful course of growth by European standards.
If the first such major programme is successfully completed, smaller boats following the flagship may also venture forth.
It is a pleasure to see that we are now a country which – when it intends to implement something somewhere – is able to do so from its own financial resources, its own funds. This was not always the case from time to time we were forced to beg for outside funds, rather than managing our own.
Further information: kormany.hu/en
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán holds talks in Egypt with Ahmed el-Tayeb, Grand Imam of al-Azhar
Mr. Orbán and the Grand Imam had an in-depth discussion on the roots of the “incomprehension” with which the European political class looks at events in Egypt.
It would be good if Europe could break out of the bondage of political and philosophical preconceptions, as its current political concepts make it hard for it to understand Egypt, and even harder to give advice.
Further information: kormany.hu/en
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán meets relatives of executed Coptic Christians in Egypt
At the Cairo office of the Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán met the relatives of Coptic Christian men executed in Libya. He expressed his condolences to the family members present and gave them gift packages.
To date the Hungarian assistance has not been widely publicised, but Hungary will continue this activity in the future.
Further information: kormany.hu/en
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE PÉTER SZIJJÁRTÓ: HUF 126 billion in business opportunities opening for Hungarian enterprises on the Egyptian market
Nine Hungarian-Egyptian business agreements were concluded during Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s visit to Cairo, representing a total of HUF 126 billion (EUR 400 million) in business opportunities for Hungarian enterprises on the Egyptian market.
The delegation led by the Prime Minister arrived in Egypt, accompanied by 75 businesspeople representing 61 Hungarian companies.
An agreement was also concluded on Hungarian business participation in the upcoming acquisition of 700 new railway wagons by Egyptian State Railways, with financing provided by Hungary’s Eximbank.
A EUR 9 million agreement was also concluded, according to which Hungarian heavy machinery manufacturer Ganz will ship railway trucks (bogies) to Egyptian State Railways.
Hungarian axle manufacturer Rába and its Egyptian partner will be establishing a joint venture to jointly manufacture axles for military and heavy goods vehicles.
If Egypt’s stability were to falter it would have a very damaging effect on the extremely fragile situation in the Middle East.
Further information: kormany.hu/en
MINISTER FOR NATIONAL ECONOMY MIHÁLY VARGA: Hungarian companies may join development projects in Egypt
Egypt and Hungary have nurtured various beneficial relations in various industrial fields, including innovative projects of high-quality technologies.
In line with the priorities of the Irinyi Plan, the Government’s major industrial development blueprint, we believe Hungarian-Egyptian industrial relations have the best growth potential mainly in the health industry, the info-communication sector, the food industry and the development of green industry.
Egypt is the largest Arab country, a state of strategic importance and also a gateway to Africa.
The volume of bilateral trade in 2015totalled some USD 300 million, thus Egypt has been the number one market for Hungarian products in the Arab world. The Hungarian government aims to double this figure within the next years.
Further information: kormany.hu/en
FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE
ORBÁN: Europe must rethink its foreign policy
Europe must rethink its foreign policy, as recently it has intervened in three countries – Iraq, Syria and Libya – and all three have collapsed: chaos emerged, millions of migrants have left those countries.
Without being asked to do so, we try to make people happy from different civilisations, cultures and way of thinking with European concepts, with methods that have worked here.
The chaos in the Middle East and its painful consequences to Europe prove to me that democracy cannot be exported: not with weapons and nor peacefully.
Every nation must be allowed to structure its political and economic system according to their own cultures.
Further information in Hungarian: kormany.hu
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE PÉTER SZIJJÁRTÓ: Hungary to strengthen relations with the Republic of Mordovia
Economic cooperation between Hungary and Russia has drastically slowed recently, but neither of the countries are to blame for this: developments in the economic and political atmosphere in Europe have had an unfavourable effect on bilateral relations.
This trend can be reversed if we strengthen regional cooperation, and promote Hungarian investment in Russia.
The Republic of Mordovia has an excellent investment environment, and shared Finno-Ugric roots with Hungary may also support cooperation.
Further information: kormany.hu/en
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE PÉTER SZIJJÁRTÓ: Development of the Hungarian economy must be placed in a new dimension
A new manufacturing unit of GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals Pharmaceutical Ltd. was opened in Gödöllő.
Hungary must shift from its current position as an industrial centre to the world of research and development and innovation centres.
The Hungarian economy must make a new step towards added value, innovation and research and development. The goal for 2020 is to have 1.8 per cent of the Hungarian GDP spent on research and development.
Last year, the production value of the Hungarian pharmaceutical industry increased by 8.5 per cent. In the first quarter of 2016, the number of those employed in the pharmaceutical industry increased by 26,000 compared to the same period of last year.
Further information in Hungarian: kormany.hu
Péter Szijjártó holds talks on the modernisation of the Budapest-Belgrade railway line
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó received China’s Deputy Director of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) Wang Xiaotao.
The parties agreed that a legal solution will be developed, on the basis of which the project will conform to European regulations.
This investment will significantly strengthen Hungary’s position in the competition between Central European countries for the route along which goods are transported towards Western Europe.
Further information: kormany.hu/en
Hungary supports granting market economy status to the People’s Republic of China
According to the Government of Hungary’s position, China’s acquisition of the status can further expand European-Chinese economic cooperation, which is particularly important for Hungary.
Hungary is increasingly successful in attracting investment from the Middle East and Asia. There is currently USD 3.5 billion worth of Chinese investment in Hungary, and a number of Chinese companies have chosen Hungary as their regional centre.
Further information: kormany.hu/en
The Southward Opening strategy is already yielding tangible results
As a result of the new policy, cooperation agreements have been concluded between two Nigerian and two Hungarian companies.
Nigeria is Africa’s growth engine, and – on the side of South Africa – it is also an important partner to Hungary. The current cooperation agreements provide excellent possibilities to Hungarian companies to enter the African market with their technologies and know-how.
As a result of the cooperation between the Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria and the Hungarian Agrár-Bioetanol Ltd, a biogas power plant with a capacity of 1.2 MW will be constructed on the university’s grounds, and the software-developer NNG Ltd. will sell one thousand units of navigation software to its Nigerian partner active in the IT sector, Pajuno Ltd..
Further information: kormany.hu
Government signs strategic cooperation agreement with Henkel Hungary
Henkel is the 68th company with which the Government of Hungary has signed a strategic cooperation agreement. Over the past five years, the company’s developments in Hungary have amounted to over HUF 30 billion.
Further information in Hungarian: kormany.hu
EUROPEAN UNION
PRIME MINISTER VIKTOR ORBÁN: If it was not for the EPP, today Hungary would not be a Member State of the EU
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán gave an address at the ceremony marking the 40th anniversary of the founding of the European People’s Party’s (EPP).
Over the past decades the EPP has always made the right decisions on the most important historic issues, it has stood up for good causes and has promoted its interest in a successful manner.
We have a European Union from the 20th century, but a problem from the 21st century, therefore the European Union and the EPP must address issues more courageously and in a broader context.
Further information: kormany.hu/en
TUSK: Views of Orbán and Merkel are compatible
The President of the Council of the European Union spoke at the event marking the 40th anniversary of the conservative European People’s Party (EPP).
If the EPP does not understand that the views of Angela Merkel and Viktor Orbán are compatible with each other and that only together can they provide a full answer, voters will search for other radical and brutal recipes for how to solve the crisis.
MINISTER OF THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE JÁNOS LÁZÁR: Asphalt case closed
The Commission was intending to impose a fine of EUR 120-140 million on Hungary, but after long negotiations an adjustment of HUF 48 billion was agreed, and EU grants worth HUF 450 billion will also be released. As a result, Hungary has managed to strike a good deal with the Commission.
MINISTER OF THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE JÁNOS LÁZÁR: OLAF has discovered a small number of alleged errors
The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) has published its annual report: compared with the number of reports filed from sources within Hungary, the organisation has discovered a small number of alleged errors.
NATIONAL ECONOMY
MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR MARKET AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PÉTER CSERESNYÉS: The number of people in employment must be increased
Minister of State for Labour Market and Vocational Education Péter Cseresnyés gave an address at the 26th HR conference in Kecskemét.
Similarly to the EU, the Hungarian Government is also aiming to achieve a 75 percent employment rate up to 2020, well above today’s figure of 68 percent.
The number of people in employment is currently 4.3 million in Hungary, which figure must be increased to 4.5-4.6 million in order to reach this target.
The Government’s recent pro-labour market measures have significantly contributed to job growth in the past couple of years. Even excluding public work employees and those working abroad, the number of people in employment in Hungary is close to 4 million.
Further information: kormany.hu/en
4 million people in employment to receive HUF 100,000 in cash next year
The Government submitted the new rules on the cafeteria system as a draft amendment of the spring tax package to the Parliamentary Committee on Legislation.
The cafeteria system needs to be restructured because Brussels has essentially crushed the current legislation.
The aim of the Government has been to create a new system which is in line with EU legislation and – more importantly – serves the interests of the people of Hungary.
This is why the Government has decided to make it possible for employees to receive part of the so far extra-pay benefits in cash from now on.
Further information in Hungarian: kormany.hu
Hungary and Turkmenistan sign tax convention
Aim of agreement is to regulate taxation, and to clarify taxation aspects bilateral relations between Hungary and Turkmenistan, by avoiding double taxation and by determining partner states’ competencies to tax various income and asset types.
Further information in Hungarian: kormany.hu
CENTRAL STATISTICAL OFFICE: External trade surplus was EUR 952 million in March
In March 2016, the export volume decreased by 1.5% and the import volume increased by 1.5% compared to the same month of the previous year. The external trade surplus decreased by EUR 58 million compared to March 2015. In the first three months of 2016 the external trade surplus reached EUR 2.5 billion.
Further information: ksh.hu
CENTRAL STATISTICAL OFFICE: A 4.7% increase in the sales of retail shops
In April 2016, the volume of sales in retail shops increased by 4.7%, according to raw data compared to the same period of the previous year. Adjusted for calendar effects – mainly due to the Easter effect – the volume growth was 6.4%.
Further information: ksh.hu
CENTRAL STATISTICAL OFFICE: Investment falls in Q1 2016
The volume of investments in the national economy was down by 9.6% in the 1st quarter of 2016, compared to the same period of the previous year.
Further information: ksh.hu
MODERN CITIES PROGRAMME
PRIME MINISTER VIKTOR ORBÁN: We must demonstrate that old industrial cities also have a future
In Dunaújváros, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán signed a cooperation agreement with Mayor Gábor Cserna as part of the Modern Cities Programme.
In Hungary a city cannot be developed without the assistance of the Government. Developments of a certain magnitude simply cannot be implemented without the Government, and this is not a party issue.
The goal is to turn Dunaújváros into a modern industrial city.
It will be hard to reach a level of modernity, because a new industrial revolution is taking place, and everything that we now tend to think about the modern economy and modern industry is changing.
If Dunaújváros and Hungarian industry fail to join the ongoing industrial revolution, they will not be able to grow, and will lose even their existing markets.
Dunaújváros University will receive funds for developments which are needed to create the facilities for research and education in electromobility, and as a result the institution will also be able to train specialists in this field.
Soon the main problem of Dunaújváros will be a shortage of labour, and it is therefore important to connect the region to the city.
Further information: kormany.hu/en
PRIME MINISTER VIKTOR ORBÁN: Government’s agreement with Dunaújváros is based on three pillars
Programme points cover: economic development; improving citizens’ quality of life; education issues at vocational level, and now also university level.
The municipality and the residents will always keep in mind that if our flag – the FIDESZ-KDNP flag – is raised, they can rely on the Government.
In today’s new political system based on national cooperation, Budapest will not determine what people in Dunaújváros should do.
Further information: kormany.hu/en
HUNGARIAN COMMUNITIES ABROAD
Hungarian highway towards Nagyvárad will reach state border by the end of 2018
Minister of State for Transport Policy announced this at a forum held in Nagyvárad (Oradea).
The construction site will be available for the contractor next week for the construction of the section from the South of Debrecen towards Berettyóújfalu. The section will reach the Hungarian-Romanian state border by connecting to the M4 highway as well.
Further information in Hungarian: kormany.hu
DEPUTY STATE SECRETARY PÉTER SZILÁGYI: Charismatic leaders could help Hungarians abroad to survive
Péter Szilágyi spoke at a conference entitled “The ways of survival – status report on Hungarians abroad”, which was held in the House of Hungarians.
A new era began with Trianon – an era of erasing and reshaping the past. Hundreds of thousands of people were forced to leave their homes, and millions of lives have been embittered just because they were born Hungarians.
Yet, despite all the bitterness and difficulties, today – nearly one hundred years after losing parts of our country – hundreds of thousands of Hungarians preserve their mother tongue, Hungarian culture in the Transcarpathian and Upper Hungarian regions.
Our closeness is increasingly becoming reality in the Carpathian Basin and in the diaspora.
Further information in Hungarian: kormany.hu
Closed: 10:42 AM, 3 June 2016.
