Winter is a perfect time for discovering Hungary’s hidden beauties. Although we are nearing the end of winter, there is still some time to visit some of the country’s gems on cooler days. Do not let the cold hold you back—wrap up warm and set off to explore Hungary’s fascinating winter destinations!

‘Things sometimes get back to normal when they are already in a very bad place…But it seems that, both in its recognition of the need to strengthen competitiveness as an objective and in its sub-objectives, the Commission has moved from the ideological to the pragmatic, and this gives strong hope that the next generation will be able to live in a thriving Europe.’

A scathing review of a 2024 feature film that portrays the Hungarian public school system in a deceitfully negative light.

‘The tradition of bathing in the Danube in Budapest dates back to the 19th century, when a series of Danube baths were opened on the banks of the river…The current proposal aims to bring this tradition back by creating a modern, clean, and safe environment, as the popularity of the open-air Roman Beach is already proving its feasibility.’

In his inaugural address, Donald Trump did not skimp on sweeping promises and tough talk. The old-new President of the United States promised a new golden age for the country, decisive action to protect its economic interests, as well as immediate measures to curb illegal migration.

While almost two-thirds of the Danish population were in favour of accession, 70.8 per cent of the citizens of Greenland rejected the idea of belonging to the European Community. The Inuit were reluctant to participate in European integration from the very beginning.

Poland aims to prepare Council conclusions on a European energy security strategy in the next six months, with the main objective of its programme being to fully divest from fossil fuels from Russia.

The Törley brand stands for excellence in Hungary, thanks to the high-quality sparkling wine that has been produced for almost 150 years now in the Budafok factory once owned by the Törley family.

‘The lapwing, the iconic bird of the wetlands of the Great Plain, has come back, which is also a kind of mirror. Where it subsists, things are fine; where it disappears, there is trouble.’

Poland took over the presidency of the EU from Hungary on 1 January. The ceremony launching the presidency, however, was conducted without the Hungarian ambassador to Poland, as the Polish Foreign Ministry declared he would not be welcome at the event. Political Director for the Prime Minister of Hungary Balázs Orbán commented on the incident and its context in an interview with wPolityce.

Christmas and the winter holiday have always had special significance in Hungary, even in Socialist times. We have collected some fun facts for you related to Hungarian Christmases through time—enjoy!

Christmas traditions were our ancestors’ way of ensuring the coming year’s success and their families’ health. Magyar Krónika has listed some of the old Hungarian festive customs.

The conference is dominated by negotiations on a global drought prevention system, both in terms of implementation and financing. This is particularly necessary because the frequency and intensity of climate damage, specifically drought, which is also a major issue in Hungary…has increased by nearly 30 per cent since the turn of the millennium, threatening agriculture, water security, and the livelihoods of 1.8 billion people.

‘Jesus Christ brought to humanity the message of hope, God’s love above all else, and salvation, thus overcoming darkness as a divine source of light proclaiming salvation. This is why the dawn takes on a special significance in anticipation of his birth.’

‘The challenges generated by the demographic change are increasingly urgent. Ageing populations and declining birth rates are putting enhanced pressure on public financing systems and threatening long-term economic sustainability, therefore, the conference aims to explore the economic and social consequences of demographic change and discuss possible solutions.’

‘The President made a powerful comment on Ukraine: “Ukraine is fighting for our freedom every day—and we must work for its freedom too.” In light of this, she resolved that our top priority will continue to be “rallying partners to support with short-term needs and long-term reconstruction efforts”.’

‘I arrived in Hungary in September 2011…In the meantime, I visited Eger, Lake Balaton, Szekszárd, and Tokaj. It was then that I visited the Disznókő (Pigstone) vineyard in the Tokaj wine region for the first time, not suspecting of course that I would one day work with them. Anyway, I liked the wines and the Tokaj cellars…Today, one of my favourite styles of wine is Tokaji Aszú.’

‘Progress towards the 2030 and 2025 targets shows steady improvement in most areas at the Community level, with a benchmark already achieved by Member States. Most work remains to be done in the area of primary education, where the gap between results and intentions is still widening.’

According to an analysis by the Makronóm Institute, Hungary can be considered a connector state, as it acts as a major link in the global economy, especially in combining Eastern and Western technologies. This is particularly true in the case of the automotive industry and energy storage systems, where Hungary has attracted significant investments.

The second ministerial-level meeting of the EU accession conference with Albania was held in Luxembourg on 15 October. The aim of the meeting was to start accession negotiations with Albania and open Cluster 1; Tirana has thus taken another step forward on the road to European integration.

The Claude Monet: The Immersive Experience exhibition in the BOK Sports Hall uses modern digital technologies to bring to life some of the French impressionist painter’s most famous masterpieces, such as the Poppy Field and his series titled Haystacks. The artworks will be on display until 2 March 2025.

‘It’s not easy to stick to quality these days. A restaurant like Pajta can only be run with with love. It’s not worth it for the profit…This kind of catering is not about striking it rich; it is the kind that you can love.’

Achieving the demographic turnaround will take a long time and a lot of work, but Hungary wants to take the first steps already in the coming months. Finding solutions to existing problems will be one of the key objectives of the Hungarian EU Presidency in the second half of 2024, using the EU demographic toolkit as a starting point.

‘In contrast to five years ago, the legitimacy of the Commission’s former and future President has been weak from the start in 2024. Although she is a Spitzenkandidat now, as she was the leader of the European People’s Party list in the European Parliament elections, the support of the leaders of the Member States is much weaker. In Germany, she is considered an opposition politician, so she is not a favourite but rather a forced choice for the governing coalition.’

At first glance, today’s cinema culture in Budapest seems very bipolar. There seems to be a tension between those who believe that traditional screening venues are long out of date and those who doubt whether a multiplex experience can be called cinema at all. One thing is certain: the story of Budapest’s cinema culture continues to unfold every day, and the main protagonists are us, cinema lovers.

Ursula von der Leyen’s Europe’s Choice programme will be the working document on the basis of which the Commissioners designate will receive their portfolios and, when they take office, the mandate in which the Commission President will set out their work and expectations for the next five years. And the implementation of these visions will be the task for this period to come.

When it got to the point where Zsuzsa and her family had to deliver sweets to a hundred places one Christmas, they felt they had reached a crossroads: ‘We knew we couldn’t go on like this. Either we cut it back and get on with our common lives or we take a sharp turn towards chocolate.’

The integration of the countries of the region into the EU is a decades-long process, the positive outcome of which is still to be seen. Thus, the number of Eurosceptics in the region has multiplied in recent years. As a consequence of the protracted accession negotiations, which have not even started for several Western Balkan states, some countries in the region have forged closer economic, political, and cultural ties with non-EU actors.

During the Kádár era, it was forbidden to drink alcohol on the streets and sometimes people were even searched and checked in pubs. In contrast, at house parties, young people had the opportunity to meet and flirt, and they only had to worry that their parents would come home earlier or that annoying neighbours would call the police on them on the landline phone.

To address the housing shortage, nearly 1 million dwellings were built under the housing programme between 1961 and 1975, 300,000 of them in Budapest; and a large part of the country’s population still lives in the apartments built during that period to this very day. Despite the difficulties and the negative aspects, anyone who has lived in or visited a prefab will never forget it. Public housing cannot be said to be entirely negative or positive, can be loved or disliked, but it is a legacy from the past that defines who we are.