Hungarian Conservative

Europe and Hungary were fortunate to have a mild winter, but ‘a country’s leadership cannot make an unequivocal bet that this will always be repeated,’ Energy Minister Lantos warned. Therefore, the government has decided to raise the level of the security gas reserve. Previously, the country stored 10 per cent of its annual consumption as a security reserve, which was now raised to nearly 2 billion cubic metres, or 20 per cent of consumption, while consumption itself decreased.

After reviewing the energy situation at the cabinet meeting on Wednesday, the government determined that all necessary resources are at its disposal to keep in place the utility cost reduction programme for households with average energy consumption.

Speaking at the opening of an MVM customer service office in Nagykáta, Pest County, Zsófia Koncz emphasized that since 2013, the government has considered keeping the utility cost reduction programme in place a top priority.

Approximately 8.5 billion cubic metres of gas was used, indicating a decrease of 1 billion cubic metres, or 10.9 per cent, compared to the 2022 level, and a substantial 2.5 billion cubic metres, or 23 per cent, reduction compared to 2021, as reported by the Ministry of Energy.

Németh recalled that since the introduction of utility cost reduction in 2013, Brussels has consistently and aggressively pushed for its termination, even though the programme has resulted in Hungarians paying the lowest household energy bills in Europe.

The PM’s political director stated that as opposed to how the European asylum system is currently working, Hungary’s position is that no one who is not eligible for legal entry should be allowed into the territory of Europe and the Schengen area. Those wishing to submit an asylum application should do so outside the Schengen area, and only those entitled to refugee status should be allowed to enter.

The ‘survival programme’ was approved with 18 votes in favour and 12 abstentions. As a result, the city will take out a 16.6 billion forint loan for project development in 2023. The loan is going to match the support provided in EU funding, central budget allocations and loans granted by the European Investment Bank.

While last September, only 40 per cent were satisfied with the transformed utility cost reduction scheme, by March this year the same number rose to 49 per cent. Additionally, the percentage of those dissatisfied dropped from 52 to 44 per cent, the data shows.

In the present circumstances, even the smallest change affecting the Bundeswehr could be the source of prolonged political debates that not only protract the deployment of forces and the acquisition of equipment, but also greatly hinder effectiveness.

According to Eurostat, the utility cost reduction in Hungary made the expenses one of the lowest in all of Europe.

In his regular Friday morning interview with public Kossuth radio, Viktor Orbán addressed issues such as migration, the economy and Ukraine’s EU accession.

Budapest energy prices were the lowest among capitals that are part of the European Union. As far as Europe is concerned, prices were the lowest in Kyiv, Ukraine.

The Hungarian Prime Minister delivered his state of the nation speech on Saturday. His topics included the war, the future of the country, domestic and geopolitics and his commitment to developing the countryside.

A recent study out of the United Kingdom found that with the European energy crisis, one in three church buildings costs more to maintain in a year than what its congregation is able to raise. In the wake of these unfortunate developments, we reached out to Churches here in Hungary to find out how they are dealing with the situation. Here is what we found.

The European General Court on Wednesday rejected the Austrian government’s lawsuit against the European Commission, confirming that the Paks nuclear power plant expansion had indeed not received illegal state funding.

The Paks nuclear power plant currently prevents the emission of 14.5 million tons of carbon dioxide per year, and with the expansion, this will increase by another 17 million tons. In addition, about four billion cubic metres less natural gas will have to be used per year.

Talks between the government and trade unions have started, with union leaders aiming for a 15–20 per cent increase of the minimum wage in 2023.

In his speech to Hungary’s parliament on Monday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán noted that while US prices for oil, natural gas, and electricity are a fraction of those in Europe, countries in Europe are currently paying a sanctions surcharge on these commodities.

Brussels has revealed its latest plan to curb energy prices in Europe. An expert of Századvég Institute has taken a closer look at the document.

Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, announced on Monday that the EU is preparing an ’emergency intervention’ in the bloc’s power market to curb skyrocketing prices.

According to the head of a Bavarian clinic, finding a hospital that can treat you quickly won’t be that easy in the future.

While the energy crisis is wreaking havoc across Western Europe, leaders are starting to consider unconventional ideas to combat shortages.

European consumers may face the prospect of energy rationing in the winter, Shell chief executive Ben van Beurden has warned.

GDP per capita growth has been above the EU-27 average in every year since 2010, so the Hungarian economy has grown faster than the EU average. Our decline in 2020 was also below average, and even below the large decline in 2009—despite the fact that the EU average decline in 2020 was larger than in 2009.

In the first article of our new series offering in-depth analyses focusing on the Hungarian economy and society our authors look at inflation in Hungary in a historical context.

The government’s primary focus for the current year is the restoration of economic growth while continuing to reduce the budget deficit and national debt.

The National Assembly of Bulgaria passed a new, €10.2 per megawatt-hour tax on Russian gas coming through the TurkStream pipeline. President Aleksandar Vučić of Serbia and Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó of Hungary have condemned the decision.

Orbán began his speech by asserting that ‘this year has enormous amounts at stake because the Soros empire, in collaboration with the governing American Democrats, is launching an attack on right-wing media and enthusiastic national parties in many European countries, portraying themselves as Goliaths’.

István Pálffy, who returned to television as an on-screen talent after 13 years, was interviewing 2022 opposition candidate Péter Márki-Zay when he inexplicably made the claim that ‘we should demonstrate certain patience towards an illness like that of paedophiles’. He was fired after just one day.

During the inauguration of a new solar power plant established by the MVM Group, Alexandra Szentkirályi stated that due to the war in Ukraine and the imposed sanctions, a very challenging energy situation has emerged. Therefore, the government’s most important task is to strengthen Hungary’s energy independence.