News about Hungary: events, facts and developments on tafs uz.
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The European Commission approved Hungary's SAFE loan application for €5.4 billion, completing the first round of the €150 billion defense funding program. Prime Minister Peter Magyar reduced the request from €16.4 billion following the change of government.
Otabek YusupovHungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia are asking to be released from financial guarantees under the EU's new loan to Ukraine, drawing criticism from Germany. Bulgaria has joined them, although it previously took part in the €90 billion loan. The dispute is complicating negotiations on the EU's long-term budget.
Aziz KarimovAccording to The Wall Street Journal, the US administration is discussing nominating former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for UN Secretary-General as a joint candidate of the US, Russia and China. No final decision has been made, and Orban himself has not commented on the information. According to The Wall Street Journal, the US administration is discussing nominating former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for the post of UN Secretary-General as a joint candidate of the United States, Russia and China. No final decision has been made, and Orbán himself has not commented on the information.
Aziz KarimovHungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar took part in a flag-raising ceremony on Kossuth Lajos Square and laid flowers at the grave of Imre Nagy. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa joined the commemorative events. Von der Leyen's visit coincided with negotiations on unfreezing billions of euros in frozen EU funds.
Sevara AzamovaThe commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the 1956 anti-communist uprising in Budapest took place without most EU heads of state. From the EU leadership, only Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa attended. Late invitations, diplomatic friction and Magyar's comments on migration and Ukraine deterred Macron, Tusk and Zelensky.
Sevara AzamovaFitch Ratings assessed Hungary's 2027 draft budget and medium-term deficit targets as supportive of the government's plan to join the eurozone by 2030. The deficit is planned to fall from 7.5% of GDP to 4.9% in 2027, but Fitch warns of difficulties in implementing the plan and high public debt.
Sevara AzamovaVon der Leyen and Costa will speak in Budapest at the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the anti-Soviet 1956 uprising — a landmark moment in the warming of relations between Brussels and Budapest under Prime Minister Péter Magyar. Meanwhile, Putin said Russia 'does not want to fight', Zelensky awaits a briefing from Witkoff, and a vulnerability in PHP forced governments across Europe to take websites offline.
Javlon TursunovIn its Europe Today bulletin, Euronews reported on mass demonstrations being prepared in France after last week's unrest, a visit by the heads of the EU institutions to Budapest for the 70th anniversary of the 1956 uprising, disagreements over migration policy, and the upcoming early elections in Serbia.
Sevara AzamovaRussian shareholders of the Serbian oil company NIS have signed an agreement to sell a controlling stake (56.15%) to Hungary's MOL. The deal still needs approval from the antitrust authorities of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the US Treasury's OFAC, since NIS is under American sanctions. Serbia has agreed to increase its stake from about 30% to 35%.
Sevara AzamovaHungarian MOL reported that there are no significant changes in the deal concerning Serbian NIS that would require disclosure to the market. Earlier, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Sinisa Mali announced the signing of an agreement to sell the controlling stake of Gazprom Neft (56.15% of shares) to MOL.
Javlon TursunovFormer governor of the National Bank of Hungary Gyorgy Matolcsy was detained in a case over the embezzlement of banking funds. The detention was first reported by Prime Minister Peter Magyar; at that time there was no official statement from the prosecutor's office. Several people connected to the Matolcsy family were also detained; the investigation has been ongoing since February 2025.
Javlon TursunovFormer head of Hungary's National Bank Gyorgy Matolcsy, an ally of Viktor Orban, was detained on the morning of October 21 as part of an investigation into embezzlement and fraud. The charges concern the reconstruction of the bank's headquarters and investments by funds financed by the central bank. His lawyer confirmed suspicions of fraud and document falsification.
Javlon TursunovIsraeli President Isaac Herzog met in Budapest on Tuesday with Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok and Prime Minister Péter Magyar. The sides discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation, and Magyar accepted an invitation to visit Israel. Reports that there were no Israeli flags on the motorcade have not been officially confirmed.
Sevara AzamovaEuropean Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa and French President Emmanuel Macron will visit Budapest on Friday to take part in events marking the 70th anniversary of the anti-Soviet uprising of 1956. The visit marks a warming of relations between Brussels and Budapest following the arrival in power of the government of Péter Magyar, who replaced Viktor Orbán.
Aziz KarimovHungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar said the 'shocking scenes' of the riots in France justify Budapest's tough migration policy. Anti-austerity protests in Paris, Lyon and Marseille were accompanied by pogroms and fires, including the burned-down town hall in Limoges. Magyar's comments drew criticism in Hungary, while Tusk and Macron took different positions.
Otabek YusupovHungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar said he does not expect Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to visit Budapest for the celebrations on October 23 marking the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Uprising, although an invitation was sent. Earlier, the sides agreed to continue contacts, including a possible joint trip to Berehove.
Aziz KarimovThe European Commission and Ukraine have agreed on a joint working group to accelerate EU accession. Hungary lifted its veto on opening new negotiating clusters after Kyiv adopted a law on education for the Hungarian minority. The group will focus on interim benchmarks on the rule of law and anti-corruption reforms.
Aziz KarimovHungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held their first bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the European Council summit in Brussels. Both sides declared their intention to normalize relations after years of tension under Viktor Orban. After Ukraine adopted a minorities law, Hungary withdrew its objections, and the EU opened two new accession negotiation clusters for Kyiv — four of six in total. Further meetings are planned, including a possible visit by Zelensky to Budapest on the 23rd.
Otabek Yusupov
