General Presentation of Hungary
Gergely Schuchtár
Consul
Embassy of Hungary
Structure
I. Geopolitical position of the
country
II. History of Hungary
III. Culture of Hungary
IV.Practical advices for the travel
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Geopolitical position
Area: 93.030 km2
Population: 9,9 m (2014 e.)
Additional 4,5 m outside
Central and Eastern Europe
7 neighbors
Climate: continental
Budapest: 1.8 m
No sea, no high mountains
(highest peak: 1014 m asl)
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Economy
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2014. IV.Q. GDP growth 3,4% (EU average: 1,3%)
2014. III.Q. Export growth 7,9% / Import by 11%
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Volume of industrial production in 2014 7,6% higher than in 2013
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2014 SUM Ex: 84,5 billion EUR / Im: 78,0 billion EUR (6,5 billion EUR surplus)
Car industry
Alimentary
Beverage
Tobacco
Growing investments in private sector 11,8% (2014. IIIQ)
Construction industry lower 2,2% (2014. dec.)
Unemployment rate 7,7% (2014 Y.)
– Average wages (850 EUR)
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Public Debt (end of 2014): GDP 77,3%
Government (spending) financing needs (in 2014): GDP 2,2%
GDP/C. (PPP): 21.239 USD
GDP/C (nom.): 14.703 USD(IMF)
GDP:€ 96.968 billion (2012/EU)
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Natural resources
• Not much
– bauxite, coal, natural gas, arable land
– fertile soils
• 47.24% of total land
• (GMO free land / protected since 2006 and by constitution
XX. Art.)
– Rivers: Danube and Tisza (international waterways)
• Danube river from Germany to Black Sea EU’s longest 2860
km
• Tisza river from the Ukraine to Black Sea: 965 km
– Lake Balaton
– Thermal water
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Natural resources
in need
• The primary energy demand in 2010 is based on:
– Gas: 40.6%
– Oil: 32.1%
– Nuclear: 15.2%
– Coal: 10.5%
– 53% of overall energy from abroad
– 78% of natural gas imported
• Out of this 80% from Russia through the Ukraine
– 82% of crude oil from Russia through the Ukraine
– Nuclear energy: Paks 1982 CCCP (40% of overall
electricity) 4R (2034) + 2
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Geopolitical location
• Landlocked
• Strategic location in terms of land routes
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Geopolitics II.
• Many IO’s (OECD, OSCE, UNsys, CoE, etc.)
– NATO (1999)
– EU (2004)
• Regional initiatives:
– Visegrad Group (V4) since 1991
– V4+ (An honest desire to intensify mutual cooperation and
friendship among the four Central European states)
– CEI since 1989 (18 MS)
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History of Hungary
– 896: Honfoglalás
– 1000: Foundation of the state by the King Stephen
– 1241-42: Invasion of the Tatars/Mongols
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History of Hungary II
• 1458-1490: King Mathias Corvinus (Kralj Matjaž)
• 1541: Turkish invasion (Country split into three parts)
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History of Hungary III
• XVII, XVIII: Fights for independence (Habsburg,
Turkish)
• 1848: Hungarian revolution
• 1867: Dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary
• 1914-1918: WW I
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History of Hungary IV
• Treaty of Trianon (1920)
• WW II (Holocaust)
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History of Hungary V
• 1945-1989 Soviet invasion, communist
dictatorship
• 1956: Revolution
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Government and Politics
• Hungary is a parliamentary representative
democratic republic
• Democratic election since 1990.
• National assembly (unicameral).
• Head of State: János Áder
• Head of Government: Viktor Orbán
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Challenges
• Sustainable economic development
• Aging population
– Economic migration to W-EU (doctors, scientists,
researchers, artists, etc.)
– Brain Drain to USA still strong
• Our region is still not competitive enough
– Too export sensitive economy – Market diversification
– Too dependent on out of EU energy sources
• (No Energy Union, No single energy market YET)
– Geopolitical instability – diverging interests
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Priorities (Geo.)
• Neighbors (i.e. Slovenia)
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Focus to achieve excellent relations (accept)
No more “0” Sum Game – Win-Win
SME (Core of our growing economies, 500 Km)
Support of HU minorities abroad
• Regional policy
– Common interests and goals (CSEE) / V4, CEI
– Coordination of policies to be represented in IOs.
• Euro-Atlantic orientation
– National interests represented in EU and NATO
• Strong and united Europe (economic crisis management, prevalence of communitybased method of decision making)
• Strengthening of transatlantic cooperation
• Global opening
– Reopen towards the “forgotten” part of the world
– Increased role in shaping the global agenda in order to meet better global
challenges.
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Priorities (Sectors)
• Security policy
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International terrorism
International cyber terrorism
Transnational organized crime
Illegal migration related threats
• Energy Security
– Natural gas / oil supplies for growing economies
– Renewable energy resources and technologies
• Promotion of collective rights of national minorities
– Language, culture, education, wellbeing at home
• Agriculture / food safety / sustainable development /
respecting cultural diversity
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HU FP and Diplomacy
• Public service
– Strengthen security in an international context
– Enhance international visibility of the community (as
country and nation)
– Secure external resources for well-being
– Broaden opportunities for external education and
cultural contacts
Last but not least
– Ensuring access to consular protection for citizens
• 100 missions with over 1800 foreign service officers
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Culture of Hungary
• Music: Ferenc Liszt, Béla Bartók, Zoltán Kodály
• Sciences: Nobel laureates Albert Szent-Györgyi
(C-vitamin).
• Sport: Summer olympics success, main sports:
Football, handball, water polo, fencing,
handball.
• Spa culture
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Visit of Hungary
• Places: Budapest
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Visit of Hungary
• Places: Puszta, Lake Balaton, other cities
• Castles:
http://hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magyarorsz%C3%A1gi_v%C
3%A1rak_list%C3%A1ja
http://visit-hungary.com/things-to-do/top-15-castles
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Visit of Hungary
• Coin of Hungary: Forint ( 1 €=300 HUF)
• Must taste: Wine (Tokaj, Eger, Szekszárd,
Balaton), Gulyás leves (Goulash soup), Somlói
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungarian_cuisine
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Thank you for your attention!
Q&A
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