In addition to the existing Hungarian Embassy in Paris, Hungary will also be operating temporary consular offices at the locations of the Hungarian national football team’s European Championship matches – Lyon, Bordeaux and Marseille – during the tournament.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó told journalists that these offices will be open from 5 June and a three-man “mobile delegation” from the Ministry will also be present in fan zones during the Hungarian team’s matches.

“When tens of thousands of Hungarian citizens are present at the same time somewhere abroad, it is our responsibility to take the necessary measures to protect and represent them”, Mr. Szijjártó said, noting that according to past experience, in such situations assistance needs to be provided with the following issues: replacing lost travel documents, maintaining contact with law enforcement authorities and providing help if healthcare services are required.

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There are honorary Hungarian consuls in Bordeaux and Marseille, so in these two cities the temporary office will operate from their existing premises, while in Lyon officials from the Ministry will be available to fans at the Hungarian House, the Minister said, adding that if the Hungarian team successfully qualify, which he hopes will be the case, then a full mobile consular service will be available to provide assistance at other locations during the knockout phase of the tournament in Toulouse, Nice, Lens and Paris.

Mr. Szijjártó asked Hungarian fans travelling to France to register with the Hungarian consular service, which they can do online via the Ministry’s website, to ensure that everyone can be contacted if necessary.

President of the Hungarian Football Association (MLSZ) Sándor Csányi stated that working as part of the security organisation of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), the national association’s security service and representatives of the Hungarian police force will also be present at the games and in the cities concerned.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade)