Hungary is working to bolster relations not only on a national level but also within the Visegrad Four; therefore the Hungarian Government has initiated the establishment of a V4 cooperation platform, Minister for National Economy Mihály Varga stated, following talks with Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov. A forum to this end is set to be organized as soon as during the Hungarian presidency as of 1 July.
“Labour market figures are improving: 4.4 million people are now working, compared to the 3.8 million people in employment 8-10 years ago”, Minister of State for Government Communication Bence Tuzson said on Hungarian M1 television’s Friday evening current affairs program.
“Prime Minister Viktor Orbán instructed the Interior Minister to take action with the full severity of the law in connection with former Jobbik Member of Parliament György Gyula Zagyva’s disgraceful anti-Semitic threats”, Bertalan Havasi, the Prime Minister’s press chief told the Hungarian news agency MTI after a press conference held by István Hollik, a Member of Parliament for KDNP on the matter.
If the Croatian party makes an offer and the parties are able to come to an agreement on a business basis, the Hungarian party is ready to sell its stake in the Croatian oil industry company INA, Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén said on the Croatian public service television (HTV) late Thursday evening.
Government Spokesperson Zoltán Kovács told has Hungarian television channel M1 that families, work and security will be the focus of the 2018 budget.
On the first day of his two-day visit to Kazakhstan, Minister for National Economy Mihály Varga said -- following a meeting with Astana International Financial Centre Governor Kairat Kelimbetov and Economy Minister Timur Suleimanov -- that Hungarian-Kazakh relations have gained strategic importance over the past few years. This significance is demonstrated by the signing of a strategic partnership agreement, improving bilateral relations – also driven by the Hungarian-Kazakh Strategic Council – and the recently relaunched direct flight connecting Budapest and Astana.
“The European Union should begin free trade negotiations with New Zealand and Australia in early autumn, and if possible should come to an agreement with them before the British leave the EU”, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó told Hungarian news agency MTI following meetings with the two countries’ relative ministers.
“The latest proposals of the European Commission in the field of road haulage favour protectionist market measures, and may result in significant extra expenditures and administrative burdens for the Central-Eastern-European businesses active in the sector. The planned regulations deteriorate European competitiveness, endanger jobs, and cause a rise in the price of haulage services where consumers are clearly at the receiving end”, Róbert Homolya, Minister of State for Transport Policy stated at the meeting of the Transport Council held on 8 June 2017 in Luxembourg.
Important progress was made at the meeting of the Justice Ministers of EU Member States held on 8 June 2017 in Luxembourg.
György Bakondi, Chief Security Advisor to the Prime Minister has told Hungarian television channel M1 that migration pressure is expected to increase or at least remain on Hungary’s borders in summer.