About: Hungary
Hungary closes asylum-seeker camps after EU court ruling
Hungary said Thursday (21 May) it would close "transit zone" camps where hundreds of asylum seekers and migrants were held, following a ruling by EU's top court against their detention.
EU data watchdog ‘very worried’ by Hungary’s GDPR suspension
The European Data Protection Board, the EU's umbrella organisation overseeing the application of EU data protection rules on the bloc, has voiced its concern over the suspension of EU data protection rights in Hungary.
Orbán says prepared to hand back emergency powers at the end of May
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán expects that his government will be able to give back to the national parliament at the end of May the sweeping powers enacted during the coronavirus crisis, state news agency MTI quoted him as saying during a visit to Serbia on Friday (15 May).
Jourová: Commission looking at Hungary’s emergency changes to labour code and GDPR
The European Commission is examining Hungary's emergency regime, including government decrees affecting the country's labour code and the application of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Vera Jourová told the European Parliament on Thursday (14 May).
Top EU court says Hungarian ‘transit zone’ amounts to detention
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) said on Thursday (14 May) that holding migrants and asylum seekers in a transit zone is detention, and challengers must have their day in court at least once.
Hungarian detentions evidence of government intimidation, say critics
Two men have been detained since Tuesday (12 May) on suspicion of ‘scaremongering’ after sharing posts critical of the government on Facebook, local media reported.
Budapest promises to welcome tourists after COVID-19 pandemic
The Hungarian capital intends to return to international tourism as soon as possible after the COVID-19 pandemic. EURACTIV's partner Ouest-France reports.
EPP proposes law to protect small farmers against oligarchs
The European People's Party group called on Wednesday (13 May) for an EU law to prevent oligarchs and land-grabbers drawing on EU subsidies at the expense of small and medium-sized farming businesses. The practice is widespread in countries in Eastern Europe and Italy.
Hungary summons Nordic diplomats over rule-by-decree row
Hungary summoned the ambassadors of four Nordic countries on Monday (11 May) over their countries' criticism of a controversial law that empowers Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to act by decree against the novel coronavirus.
Hungary, China sign classified loan deal for Budapest-Belgrade Chinese rail project
Hungary and China have signed a loan agreement to finance the construction of a railway link between Budapest and Belgrade, Finance Minister Mihaly Varga announced on Friday (24 April), kickstarting a project that has been stalled for years.
Hungary accused of holding migrants in ‘unlawful detention’
Hungary was accused on Thursday (23 April) of holding asylum seekers in a camp on the border with Serbia in "unlawful detention" by the Advocate General of the European Court of Justice (ECJ).
Bulgaria ‘black sheep of the EU’: World Press Freedom Index
Bulgaria has the lowest standards of press freedom in Europe and is ranked 111th globally in terms of press freedom for a third consecutive year in the Reporters Without Borders annual edition of the World Press Freedom index, which called the country "the black sheep of the EU".
EP condemns Hungary and Poland’s controversial coronavirus moves
The European Parliament passed a resolution on Friday (17 April) describing the recent Hungarian and Polish government actions during the coronavirus outbreak as "totally incompatible with European values."
Hungary’s ‘real test’ yet to come, PM says, as coronavirus cases jump
Hungary needs more ventilators and intensive care hospital beds as part of its efforts to weather the coronavirus crisis, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Friday (10 April), as the government reported the single biggest daily increase in infections.
Austria says it still prefers dialogue with Hungary
After the Hungarian parliament adopted an emergency law that gave Prime Minister Viktor Orbán extensive powers on 30 March, 13 EU member states issued a joint statement on the need to protect rule of law. Austria, however, did not join as it prefers to seek dialogue, the country's EU minister, Karoline Edtstadler, told EURACTIV Germany.
Orban has ‘no time’ for EU allies’ criticism
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said Friday (3 April) he has "no time" for scathing criticism by EU allies of sweeping powers he took on this week to tackle the coronavirus threat.
Von der Leyen ‘concerned’ over Hungary virus emergency law
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen expressed "particular" concern on Thursday (2 April) over a coronavirus emergency law in Hungary that has given nationalist premier Viktor Orbán sweeping powers.
Poland, Hungary and Czechia broke law over refugees relocation system, EU court rules
Poland, Hungary and Czechia failed to fulfil their legal obligations under EU law when they refused to participate in the relocation system for refugees in 2015, the European Court of Justice ruled on Thursday (2 April).
Orbán seeks EPP backing for his absolute powers
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is seeking conservative support to remain within Europe's main centre-right political bloc despite concerns over his adoption of emergency powers to rule by decree.
Sassoli shows his differences with von der Leyen over Hungary
European Parliament President David Sassoli has asked the European Commission to assess whether the new laws introduced in Hungary under the disguise of coronavirus emergency comply with the most important text of EU treaties, he said late on Tuesday (31 March).
Von der Leyen warns against democratic backsliding without mentioning Hungary
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen warned on Tuesday (31 March) that coronavirus emergency measures by EU countries must be "limited", in a veiled reference to Hungary's nationalist leader Viktor Orbán, who used the pandemic to take on sweeping powers.
Orbán to rule by decree with new powers to ‘silence critics’
The Hungarian Parliament approved new emergency powers on Monday (30 March) that will allow the ruling Fidesz party the right to rule by decree, without a set time limit, in a move that prompted an outcry from human rights groups.
Coronavirus to father EU’s ‘first dicatatorship’?
A "dictatorship" at the heart of the EU? A draft law to grant anti-coronavirus emergency measures set for adoption by Budapest has alarmed observers who fear it will hand Prime Minister Viktor Orbán unlimited power.