Budapest Post

Hungary Reaffirms Opposition to Irregular Migration While Backing Development Assistance

Hungarian President András Baka said the country would continue opposing irregular migration and criminal smuggling networks while supporting refugee protections and development programmes intended to expand opportunities in countries of...

Hungarian Central Bank Forecasts 1.8% Growth in 2026 and Faster Expansion in 2027

The National Bank of Hungary projects GDP growth of 1.8% in 2026, 2.9% in 2027 and 2.8% in 2028, while recent inflation data have come in below earlier expectations.

Hungary Dissolves 16 Public Interest Asset Management Foundations

The government completed the dissolution of 16 public interest asset management foundations not involved in higher education, returning assets with a book value of at least 1.284 trillion forints to direct state control.

Hungary’s New Asset Recovery Office Begins Anti-Corruption Push

The National Asset Recovery and Protection Office has been established with investigative and prosecutorial powers focused on suspected misuse of public assets, forming a central part of the Magyar government’s new anti-corruption framew...

Hungary and Ukraine Clash Over Carpathian Eight Regional Initiative

Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar rejected suggestions that Hungary had joined Ukraine’s new Carpathian Eight cooperation format, prompting criticism from Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha as relations remain strained despite ...

European Commission Proposes Releasing €4.2 Billion in Frozen Funds for Hungary

The European Commission has asked EU governments to lift measures blocking €4.2 billion in cohesion funding and restore full Hungarian access to Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe after concluding that Budapest had addressed rule-of-law concern...

Hungary Secures Nations League Victory at Puskás Aréna

Hungary’s national football team defeated a regional rival in Budapest, keeping alive its prospects of qualification for the competition’s top tier.

Independent Hungarian Newsrooms Form Joint Investigative Network

Several independent media organisations in Budapest have created a data-sharing and investigative consortium to pool resources for reporting on public procurement and the use of state funds.

Lake Balaton Tourism Rebounds With Strong Autumn Bookings

Hotels and tourism operators around Lake Balaton reported a late-season rise in bookings as corporate retreats, wellness trips and food festivals helped offset a weaker summer.

Hungary Reports Record Spending by International Film and Television Productions

Foreign film and television productions spent more in Hungary this year than ever before, supported by tax incentives and extensive studio infrastructure around Budapest.

Wizz Air Adds Gulf and Central Asian Routes From Budapest

Hungarian low-cost carrier Wizz Air is expanding direct services from Budapest to commercial centres in the Gulf and Central Asia as it targets growing demand on emerging regional routes.

Hungarian Authorities Deploy Flood Defences Along Danube After Upstream Storms

Water-management teams reinforced embankments and installed mobile barriers north of Budapest after heavy rainfall in Austria and Germany triggered a sudden rise in Danube water levels.

Hungary Reinforces Serbian Border as Human-Smuggling Activity Increases

Hungarian authorities have deployed additional patrol units and thermal-surveillance equipment along the Serbian frontier following an increase in organised attempts to bypass established border controls.

Hungarian Retail Sales Remain Weak Despite Rising Real Wages

Official data show little year-on-year growth in retail trade as households continue to favour saving over discretionary spending despite improving real incomes.

Hungarian Teachers Seek Further Pay Rises as Inflation Erodes Salary Gains

The country’s main teachers union is pressing the government for additional wage increases, arguing that inflation has reduced the benefit of the 21% salary rise introduced earlier this year.

4iG Completes Acquisition of Regional Fibre-Optic Networks

Hungarian telecommunications group 4iG finalised another fibre-network acquisition as it expands its infrastructure holdings and strengthens its position against international operators in Central Europe.

Budapest AI and Cybersecurity Start-Ups Draw Record Early-Stage Investment

Hungarian technology incubators reported record venture-capital inflows into artificial intelligence and cybersecurity companies, strengthening Budapest’s position as a regional start-up centre.

Budapest Housing Prices Accelerate as Mortgage Rates Stabilise

Residential prices in the Hungarian capital rose more quickly during the third quarter as borrowing costs eased and international investors continued to target premium property.

Hungarian Railways Plans Major Fleet Renewal Using EU Funding

MÁV has announced a multiyear programme to replace ageing regional trains and upgrade busy commuter routes around Budapest, with the railway planning to draw on European cohesion funding.

Hungary Begins Nationwide Reorganisation of State Hospital Network

The government has launched a restructuring of public hospitals that will centralise procurement and consolidate specialist services across regions as authorities seek to address staffing shortages and modernise care outside Budapest.

Severe Autumn Drought Hits Hungary’s Maize and Sunflower Harvests

Hungary’s Chamber of Agriculture has warned of major crop losses after prolonged heat and water shortages damaged maize and sunflower yields across the Great Hungarian Plain.

Hungarian Factories Recruit More Non-EU Workers as Labour Shortages Persist

Recruitment agencies report increasing use of non-EU guest workers at new battery and automotive factories in eastern Hungary as manufacturers struggle to fill positions from the domestic labour pool.

Hungary Reaffirms Support for Faster Western Balkans EU Enlargement

Hungarian officials continue to identify faster European integration of Western Balkan countries as a foreign-policy priority, although Ireland, not Hungary, holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of 2026.

Hungary Challenges Inclusion in Ukraine’s New Carpathian Eight Forum

Prime Minister Péter Magyar objected to Hungary being included in Ukraine’s proposed Carpathian Eight regional format without prior consultation, opening a fresh diplomatic dispute between Budapest and Kyiv.

Hungarian Prosecutors Seek Suspension of Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s Immunity

Prosecutors have asked parliament to lift Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s immunity over a 2024 incident in which he allegedly threw another person’s mobile phone into the Danube, while Magyar has proposed abolishing parliamentary immunity ...

Hungary Continues to Attract Major Asian Investment in Batteries and Electronics

New investment data show Hungary drawing substantial capital from South Korean and Chinese companies building battery, automotive and electronics facilities across the country.

Rheinmetall Starts Serial Production of Lynx Fighting Vehicles in Hungary

Rheinmetall’s Zalaegerszeg plant has delivered its first domestically produced Lynx infantry fighting vehicles to Hungary’s armed forces, marking a milestone in the country’s military modernisation programme.

Budapest Airport Plans New Terminal and Major Cargo Expansion

The state-backed operator of Liszt Ferenc International Airport has outlined a multibillion-forint investment programme covering a new passenger terminal and expanded air-freight capacity.

Budapest-Belgrade Railway Faces Further Delays Over EU Signalling Integration

The modernisation of the Budapest-Belgrade rail corridor has encountered technical delays as contractors work to integrate Chinese-built infrastructure with European train-control and safety systems.

Hungary Builds Winter Gas Reserves Through Increased TurkStream Deliveries

Hungary says its natural gas storage facilities are close to full ahead of winter after increasing supplies through the southern corridor and TurkStream route via Serbia.

Hungarian Central Bank Holds Base Rate Steady Amid Global Market Volatility

The National Bank of Hungary kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged, prioritising forint stability and inflation control as geopolitical uncertainty and shifting European monetary policy limit room for faster easing.

Hungarian Economy Seen Growing Nearly 2% as Inflation Moderates

Economic forecasts point to growth of almost 2% this year as stronger household consumption and public-sector wage increases support activity, although weak corporate investment and high government deficits remain concerns.

Paks II Nuclear Project Moves Into Major Foundation Phase

Construction teams have begun large-scale foundation work for new reactor blocks at Hungary’s Paks II nuclear plant, advancing the Rosatom-led project that forms a central part of the country’s long-term power strategy.

BYD Accelerates Construction of Electric Vehicle Factory in Szeged

Chinese automaker BYD is stepping up construction of its multibillion-euro Szeged plant, aiming to begin producing its first European-assembled electric vehicles next year.

BMW Moves Debrecen Factory to Round-the-Clock Production

BMW has introduced a three-shift, 24-hour production schedule at its new Debrecen plant after producing its first 50,000 electric vehicles, as the company prepares the facility for a second Neue Klasse model.

CATL Starts Trial Production at 100-GWh Battery Plant in Debrecen

Chinese battery maker CATL has begun trial operations at its new Debrecen cell factory, moving closer to full production at the 100-gigawatt-hour facility built to supply European automakers including Mercedes-Benz and BMW.

European Commission Proposes Unlocking €4.2 Billion in EU Funds for Hungary

The European Commission recommended lifting financial safeguards imposed in 2022 after concluding that Hungary had addressed rule-of-law concerns, a move that could restore €4.2 billion in cohesion funding and full access to Erasmus+ and...

Budapest Stock Exchange Sees Moderate Volatility in Banking and Energy Shares

Hungarian equities have moved with broader European market uncertainty, with major companies including OTP Bank and Richter experiencing modest fluctuations as investors reassess regional economic conditions.

Pannon University Researchers Secure EU Funding for AI and Materials Science

Research teams in Veszprém have received European funding to develop computational methods for advanced composite materials, strengthening Hungary’s academic work in applied artificial intelligence and industrial technology.

Hungary Tightens Rules Governing Employment of Non-EU Workers

Hungarian immigration rules now impose stricter conditions on third-country employment, including employer verification and reporting requirements, while new guest-worker residence permit applications have been suspended under changes in...

Hungarian Tourism Reports Strong Summer Demand in Budapest and Lake Balaton

Official tourism figures show a strong summer season, with international visitors supporting hospitality activity in Budapest and around Lake Balaton as Hungary continues to expand its tourism economy.

Hungary Expands Housing Credit Support to Stimulate Residential Construction

The government is introducing targeted financing measures intended to lower borrowing costs for first-time buyers and encourage developers to restart residential projects in Budapest and other major cities.

Hungarian Competition Authority Steps Up Scrutiny of Grocery Pricing

Hungary’s competition watchdog is increasing scrutiny of supermarket pricing practices as food costs remain a sensitive issue for household purchasing power and consumer confidence.

MVM Strengthens Long-Term Gas Supplies Ahead of Winter

State-owned MVM is securing longer-term regional natural-gas arrangements as Hungary seeks to protect winter reserves and reduce exposure to disruption in traditional energy-supply routes.