Latest news in Hungary - 19 Dec 2024

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- Land Compensation Discrepancies in Hungary: A report reveals significant differences in land compensation rates between Győr and Szeged. Landowners in Győr received an average of 1,435 forints per square meter for their land used for an industrial park, three times more than the 444 forints in Szeged for land designated for a new factory. This disparity and the implications for property rights are raising concerns about fairness in municipal valuations. Read more here

- Budapest's 2025 Budget Debate: The Budapest assembly is in discussions over the 2025 budget, with proposed cuts to the government's solidarity contributions. The budget aims to stabilize public service funding at 412 billion forints in revenue against 424 billion in expenditures. Tensions arose as political factions debated its implications for city services. Read more here

- Orbán's Focus on Schengen Membership: Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is in Brussels for meetings regarding Schengen membership expansions for Bulgaria and Romania. With discussions emphasizing integration and migration, these talks are crucial for Hungary as it navigates its presidency and regional collaboration. Read more here

- Six Universities Sue European Commission: Six Hungarian universities, including well-known institutions such as Semmelweis, have filed legal action against the European Commission after being barred from Erasmus+ and Horizon programs over university autonomy concerns. They argue this decision unfairly discriminates against them. Read more here

- Online Vehicle Registration Launch in Hungary: Starting July 2025, Hungarians will be able to handle vehicle registrations online for used cars, aiming to reduce the need for in-person office visits. This is in response to the high volume of transactions in the automotive market, which exceeded 820,000 last year. Read more here

- New Law Against Online Aggression: Hungary's National Assembly has enacted a law penalizing online expressions of violent intentions towards identifiable individuals, effective January 1. The law has raised concerns about its implications for free speech and online communication. Read more here

- Ambulance Response Times Improve: Hungary's ambulance services are reportedly responding to emergencies within an average of 12.4 minutes amid increased call volumes. This improvement comes as part of efforts to prioritize urgent care, reflecting an 18.2% rise in emergency calls over the past six years. Read more here

- New KRESZ Amendment for Emergency Vehicles: A recent amendment in Hungary’s traffic regulations now permits emergency and enforcement vehicles to use bus lanes when equipped with sirens. This aims to improve traffic flow during emergencies and enhance public safety around rescue operations. Read more here

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