‘Yet nearly two decades later, Spain appears increasingly unprepared to manage a renewed wave of migratory pressure. In 2023 alone, over 56,000 migrants arrived by sea, with more than 61,000 arrivals recorded by the end of April 2024. The Canary Islands remain the epicentre, experiencing a 140 per cent year-on-year increase.’
Hungarian agricultural leaders warn that Ukraine’s EU accession and EU budget reforms could slash farm subsidies by up to 25 per cent. Farmers and industry bodies rallied in Brussels to protest against plans that could merge the CAP into a broader superfund.
The Trump administration has been exercising the clause in the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act that allows the government to fine illegal migrants $500 a day for defying removal orders. As a result, a Honduran woman in South Florida, who has been in the US illegally since 2005, was given a fine of $1.82 million.
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has accused the head of French foreign intelligence of pressuring him to silence conservative voices on his platform ahead of the Romanian presidential elections. The events feed into an already tense political climate in the country, following the annulment of the original vote’s first-round results in December 2024 due to alleged Russian interference.
Hungary’s parliament has voted to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), a decision Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó says stems from concerns over what he described as politically motivated and unserious actions by the tribunal.
Hungary is the first country to host leaders of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) for a summit as an Observer State, as opposed to a Member State of the organization. The event hosted by Prime Minister Orbán will be taking place on 20–21 May in Budapest.
‘I look forward to working together on strengthening the cooperation between Hungary and Romania,’ Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán wrote in his congratulatory post to Romanian President-elect Nicușor Dan. The Bucharest mayor won by a landslide in Hungarian-majority counties, with more than 90 per cent of voters in Harghita casting their ballots for him on Sunday.
Hungary expands its anti-inflation campaign by capping profit margins on non-food household products sold in drugstores, aiming to protect families and pensioners from unjustified price hikes as part of broader efforts to boost consumption.
Established in 2019, André Ventura’s Chega is now the second-largest party in Portugal, neck and neck with the Socialist Party after Sunday’s snap election. The southern European country has held its third vote in as many years and is preparing for yet another minority government formed by the centre-right Democratic Alliance coalition—a situation that could further strengthen Chega.
‘Under President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s leadership, Uzbekistan has transformed into a dynamic leader within the Organization of Turkic States. Through initiatives focused on economic connectivity, regional security, and sustainable development, Uzbekistan is not only strengthening ties among Turkic nations but also carving out a prominent role on the global stage.’
Over the weekend, his family revealed that Former President Joe Biden had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. President Biden had also lost his son, Beau Biden, to cancer in 2015.
Environmental protection has become a central political issue in China, a country responsible for 31 per cent of global industrial output. Former President János Áder and sinologist Gergely Salát explore how China is transforming itself into a green superpower.
At a major rally in Budapest, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán declared Ukraine’s potential EU membership the greatest threat to Hungary, warning of economic burdens, migration risks, and foreign influence, while rallying supporters for the 2025 elections.
‘As the European Union and the Turkic world steadily evolve into natural economic allies, Hungary’s role in this process is becoming increasingly pivotal. Thanks to the trust it has earned…Hungary is well-positioned to act as a bridge between the two blocs. Hungarian–Uzbek relations are flourishing, with both nations serving as keystone states within their respective regions.’
In a closely contested first round of Poland’s presidential election, Donald Tusk’s candidate Rafal Trzaskowski won 31.1 per cent of the vote, narrowly ahead of Karol Nawrocki, who trailed with 29.1 per cent according to the late poll. The run-off on 1 June is widely expected to hinge on voters from right-wing Konfederacja, whose support could tip the balance.
The Jordanian–Hungarian relations have flourished recently, and Budapest is looking to enter the healthcare, food, and digital sectors in the following years.
Romania’s presidential election could end with Bucharest Mayor Nicușor Dan’s victory, according to exit polls showing him ahead on Sunday night. However, the result remains fiercely contested, as right-wing candidate George Simion has alleged widespread electoral fraud and declared himself the winner on social media, defying the polling data.
Hungary and Egypt are cooperating to promote peace in Europe and stop illegal migration. Under their current agreement, Hungary can contribute to bringing internet access to millions of Egyptian homes.
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the British Embassy Residency in Budapest, Ambassador Fox is hosting a series of events this year, all dedicated to the illustrious building, which has been visited by both the members of the rock band Queen and Queen Elizabeth II herself during its long and eventful history.
At Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming inaugural mass in the Vatican this Sunday, President of the Republic Tamás Sulyok will be leading the Hungarian delegation, his office has announced.
After self-described ‘anti-fascists’ attempted to block an MCC Brussels event on Tuesday, Balázs Orbán, political director to the Hungarian prime minister and chairman of the board of MCC, urged Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever in an open letter to stand firm on the defence of freedom of speech and the right to assembly.
Hungarian Counter Terrorism Centre (TEK) arrested a 25-year-old German man in Budapest, wanted for antisemitic crimes and illegal arms trafficking. He was captured at Nyugati Railway Station after arriving on a train from Szolnok.
‘An EU–UK “reset” should not violate the will of the people as expressed during the Brexit referendum; nevertheless, negotiating some form of economic cooperation with the EU is possible, and it could potentially be beneficial for both the UK and EU member states.’
Hungary will manufacture the next generation of electric vehicles, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced after signing a strategic agreement with Chinese carmaker BYD, marking a milestone in Chinese–Hungarian industrial cooperation.
‘The defence of Ukraine is not the defence of the alliance, not the community, not NATO. Ukraine is currently the threat,’ Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó warned on Thursday. The minister firmly rejected accusations from his Polish counterpart, accusing him of aligning with Kyiv in what he described as a disinformation campaign against Hungary.
‘Tensions between the two sides do exist—even on strategic matters—and occasionally spill into public view. The key difference, especially compared to the Biden era, is that these leaks are not weaponized publicly. Instead, both parties swiftly work to defuse them.’
A 4.45-kilometre high-speed oval track capable of supporting speeds up to 250 km/h was inaugurated at ZalaZONE in Zalaegerszeg, marking a major step in Hungary’s bid to become a hub for automotive innovation and global industry collaboration.
A recent survey by Századvég Foundation reveals that most Hungarians reject foreign influence in domestic politics and media, supporting new legislation that would restrict foreign-funded organizations seen as threats to national sovereignty.
The agreement is not just a matter for Ukraine and the US. There is a geopolitical realignment of the world’s raw materials markets, in which Europe’s interests are strongly involved. If US companies are, in practice, given priority access to Ukrainian raw materials, this could limit the EU’s room for manoeuvre at a time when the speed of the green transition will determine future competitiveness.
As the proposed meeting in Istanbul between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin remains in limbo, Pope Leo XIV appears to have offered the Holy See’s mediation to the warring parties. The negotiations have gained new momentum as international pressure mounts on Russia to agree on a ceasefire.