Hungarian Conservative

About 5 per cent of the Hungarian GDP is generated by the auto industry, therefore, initially, the EU’s decision to ban the sale of all new combustion-engine cars in 2035 was met with resistance in Hungary. Due to the ban, it is expected that from 2035 on practically only electric vehicles will be allowed to be sold in the European single market, which could have left the Hungarian economy that was dependent on the old technology vulnerable. Fortunately, however, Hungary showed a remarkable ability to adapt to the changing circumstances. In the past two years since the ban was proposed electric battery manufacturers have been engaged, which helps facilitate the green transition of the Hungarian car industry.

Hungarian-Chinese relations are largely about a medium-sized nation’s struggle to diversify and reduce the risk of having all of its eggs in the German manufacturers’ basket.

In the Eastern Hungarian city of Debrecen, Jobbik parliamentary group leader László Lukács criticized the Orbán administration for the number of foreign workers being allowed in the country.

The environmental permit of CATL, which has significant water and energy requirements, was challenged in court by six private individuals and two civil organisations.

In his video message sent to the conference taking place in Yibin, China, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó praised the mutually beneficial strategic cooperation between Hungary and China, and called Hungary ‘a meeting point of Western and Eastern investors’.

The expert speakers at the event expressed confidence that the much-talked-about plant will not be a major pollution source in the area, as there are legally mandated limits to harmful material emissions for every industrial facility. These regulations are stricter in Hungary than what’s required by the EU, as one of the panellists pointed out.

Over the last couple of years, Chinese investments have greatly contributed to economic growth in Hungary, in sectors ranging from cargo transport to battery manufacturing.