The prospect of Hungary complying with the ECJ ruling appears increasingly unlikely, as the government shows no sign of relenting. In fact, the issue may escalate into a broader political confrontation.
As Hungary holds the presidency of the Council of the EU, it can leverage its influence to set the EU’s agenda in favour of increased imports of Turkmen gas, presenting it as a strategic and cost-effective alternative to Russian energy dependence. This would not only support Hungary’s energy strategy but also align with the broader EU goals of securing diverse and reliable energy sources while enhancing its presence in the geopolitically significant Central Asian region.
Axios has recently published a story in which the chair of the Harris-Walz campaign calls Democrats ‘the clear underdogs’ in the presidential election. While Harris is performing well in public polling, rumours are that her team’s internal numbers tell a different story. This is also evidenced by the fact that she is making a campaign stop in New Hampshire, a state that is supposedly safe blue in 2024.
In 2016 the Hungarian government embarked on a military development programme driven by the need for a strong military capable of protecting the lives, property, and culture of Hungarian citizens, as well as fulfilling the country’s NATO obligations. The setting up of the Territorial Defence Forces Command was part of this effort.
The decision to ban mobile phones was made by Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara in July. From September this year, students in kindergartens and the first five grades of primary schools are not allowed to use mobile phones, even for educational or learning purposes. Tablets, computers, and other technological devices may be used under teacher supervision. Hungary has also introduced a similar measure recently.
Through the app made available by the Hungarian government citizens will be able to access all their important information, such as their personal ID number, their public health care ID number, and even information about their vehicle. The aim of the initiative is to ease the reliance on physical copies of important documents.
At the end of July Viktor Orbán announced that he would nominate again Olivér Várhelyi, the former Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Policy. Hungary would retain the position in charge of enlargement policy in the new Commission, but this ambition may be thwarted. Currently it seems that the majority of Member States and the EP are reluctant to give Hungary any strong commissioner position, and many predict that Várhelyi will be given a hard time during his parliamentary committee hearing.
Speaking at the festive senate meeting marking the start of the academic year at the University of Pécs on the Day of Hungarian Higher Education, State Secretary Varga-Bajusz noted that higher education serves students, families, teachers, the Hungarian economy, and the Hungarian nation—essentially, it is ‘for us, our present, and our future.’
During the week innovation events will be hosted by organizations such as EduTech Hungary, the Hungarian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (HVCA), the Vienna Business Agency, the Hungarian Project Management Association, RInnoValleys, and the Hungarian Business Angel Network (HUNBAN).
The radical right-wing Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party got the most votes in the state of Thuringia, and came in close second in Saxony. Experts Ágoston Sámuel Mráz, Bence Bauer, and Zoltán Kiszelly shared their thoughts as the results were coming at an event organized by MCC.
From this year onwards, Hungarian universities and colleges have full discretion in how to award the 100 ‘extra points’ in the admission process. Minister of Culture and Innovation Balázs Hankó of Hungary lauded the new system, saying it provides ‘flexibility, competitiveness and institutional autonomy’.
According to Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak, Kyiv plans to shut down the Druzhba oil pipeline starting from 1 January 2025. This pipeline is a key route through which Russian oil reaches Europe, including Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. Hungarian oil and gas company MOL stated that it has not been informed of this decision and that transport is currently running smoothly. Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó has assured that Hungary’s energy supply remains secure.
The reigning Hungarian champions Ferencváros beat out the Bosnian side FK Borac Banja Luka on penalties in the away leg, and thus qualified for the Europa League’s newly established league phase. Meanwhile, Puskás Akadémia also made it to the penalty shootout against the finalists of the last two Conference League campaigns, the Italian Fiorentina, but narrowly fell short this time.
At the Winery of the Year award ceremony in Villány State Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Márton Nobilis affirmed that the government and the Ministry remain committed to supporting the sector, with a particular focus on innovation and promoting sustainable viticulture and winemaking practices.
Germany has some of the most stringent export control laws in the world, especially concerning dual-use technologies that can be utilized for both civilian and military purposes. But the discovery of German-manufactured parts in Hezbollah’s arsenal raises troubling questions about the effectiveness of these regulations.
Ukraine’s decision not to renew its contract with Gazprom has raised concerns in many about how Russian gas will reach Europe in the future. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated that Russia could still meet European customers’ needs through the Turkish Stream pipeline, but at a higher cost than before. This latest move by Ukraine poses yet another threat to Hungary’s energy security.
The Socialist Sánchez government in Spain vetoed the Hungarian consortium Ganz-MÁVAG Europe’s acquisition of the Spanish train manufacturer Talgo. Their concern was the supposed close ties between Budapest and Moscow, fearing that the Hungarian company may share trade secrets with the Russians.
US Ambassador David Pressman has once again criticized the Hungarian government, this time targeting Viktor Orbán’s peace mission. According to Pressman, no one is truly following the Hungarian Prime Minister’s efforts for peace, which he characterized as ‘appeasement’.
The terahertz range of the electromagnetic spectrum can penetrate materials like plastics, textiles, and even biological tissues without causing damage, making it an indispensable tool in imaging, spectroscopy, national security, and material testing. Additionally, it plays a crucial role in the development of high-speed wireless communication systems and quantum computers.
Democrat presidential nominee Kamala Harris blatantly copied Donald Trump’s proposal for eliminating taxes on tips, as well as including a very similar plan for child tax credit in her economic agenda to what JD Vance proposed during a TV interview. That is despite the fact that she is currently leading the national polling aggregate on RealClearPolitics.
Hungarian Minister of Agriculture István Nagy will open this year’s international non-GMO summit in Frankfurt. The focus of this year’s conference will be on the political debate surrounding new genomic techniques (NGTs).
President Tamás Sulyok of Hungary spoke at the event commemorating the anniversary of the foundation of the Pannonhalma Archabbey. In his remarks the President stressed the importance of the Christian religion in preserving Hungary’s future and self-identity.
Through the application of various new processes and systems, such as power-to-heat, Heat Grid, and eRTO, the Debrecen facility will be the first paint shop in BMW Group’s global production network to fully abandon the use of fossil fuels. The new vehicle factory in Debrecen, where trial production will commence by the end of this year, will serve as a model for all future plants based on the BMW iFACTORY principles.
The government decree limiting mobile phone use in schools was issued in early August and will take effect in September. According to a recent survey published on Wednesday, an overwhelming majority of Hungarians, 85 per cent, support the ban.
Hungary performed outstandingly well at the last Paralympic Games in Tokyo in 2021, collecting seven gold medals. This year, there are 39 Hungarian para-athletes competing in the French capital at the 17th Summer Paralympic Games.
Before 2010 the cost of textbook packages increased by 71 per cent over eight years, requiring families to pay more each year. In response to this situation, a decision was made after 2010 to provide free textbooks to everyone through the state textbook development system, which would otherwise cost families 20,000–40,000 forints. Additionally, 80,000 free school supply kits will be distributed to families in need.
The expansion of the Paks nuclear power plant has reached an important milestone, with ground consolidation for the nuclear island of Unit 6 now underway. According to Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó, only countries capable of managing their own energy supply can be successful, and the Paks power plant plays a crucial role in ensuring this for Hungary.
From time to time, the left-wing media circulate rumours that the Hungarian government is planning to create single-member constituencies in areas inhabited by Hungarians living beyond the border, such as Transylvania or Carpathia. This time, it was Péter Magyar, the leader of the opposition Tisza party, who initiated the spread of these false rumours, which the government has repeatedly denied. The left has consistently looked down upon Hungarians living beyond the borders, continually blaming them for their own political failures.
A Syrian migrant due to be deported stabbed three people to death in Solingen, Germany last Friday. On Monday Chancellor Olaf Scholz of the left-wing SPD party visited the site of the tragedy, and vowed to crack down on illegal migration in the country.
Hungary has been proactive in building strong economic ties and investing in energy production in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan. Hungarian companies, such as MVM and MOL groups, play a key role in oil production in Kazakhstan and natural gas production in Azerbaijan. Notably, Hungary recently acquired a 5 per cent share in Azerbaijan’s Shah Deniz natural gas field. The successful operations of Hungarian businesses in these countries, combined with the development of economic and transit projects, have elevated Hungary’s role within the EU as a bridge to these energy-rich nations, enhancing the EU’s access to diversified energy resources.