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 2

Geopolitical position Area: km 2 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) 3

Economy IV.Q. GDP growth 3,4% (EU average: 1,3%) III.Q. Export growth 7,9% / Import by 11% – 2014 SUM Ex: 84,5 billion EUR / Im: 78,0 billion EUR (6,5 billion EUR surplus) Volume of industrial production in ,6% higher than in 2013 – 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) Public Debt (end of 2014): GDP 77,3% Government (spending) financing needs (in 2014): GDP 2,2% GDP/C. (PPP): USD GDP/C (nom.): USD(IMF) GDP:€ billion (2012/EU) 4

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 5

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 6

Geopolitical location Landlocked Strategic location in terms of land routes 7

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) 8

History of Hungary – 896: Honfoglalás – 1000: Foundation of the state by the King Stephen – : Invasion of the Tatars/Mongols 9

History of Hungary II : King Mathias Corvinus (Kralj Matjaž) 1541: Turkish invasion (Country split into three parts) 10

History of Hungary III XVII, XVIII: Fights for independence (Habsburg, Turkish) 1848: Hungarian revolution 1867: Dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary : WW I 11

History of Hungary IV Treaty of Trianon (1920) WW II (Holocaust) 12

History of Hungary V Soviet invasion, communist dictatorship 1956: Revolution 13

Government and Politics Hungary is a parliamentary representative democratic republic Democratic election since National assembly (unicameral). Head of State: János Áder Head of Government: Viktor Orbán 14

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 15

Priorities (Geo.) Neighbors (i.e. Slovenia) – 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 community- based 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. 16

Priorities (Sectors) Security policy – 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 17

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 18

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 19

Visit of Hungary Places: Budapest 20

Visit of Hungary Places: Puszta, Lake Balaton, other cities Castles: 3%A1rak_list%C3%A1ja 21

Visit of Hungary Coin of Hungary: Forint ( 1 €=300 HUF) Must taste: Wine (Tokaj, Eger, Szekszárd, Balaton), Gulyás leves (Goulash soup), Somlói 22

Thank you for your attention! Q&A 23